Personality Psychology : A Student-Centered Approach

This textbook examines major theories of personality as they apply to an understanding of our past, present and future selves. Unlike traditional personality textbooks that merely present a succession of different theories, this student-centred volume examines how theories of personality have a bearing on questions that are relevant across the lifespan.

A question-and-answer format invites students to approach personality psychology with an active attitude of critical inquiry in their search for objective knowledge and self-discovery. Throughout the text, students are encouraged to evaluate each theory in terms of how much it contributes to an understanding of their own personalities and lives. An instructor′s manual is ava

Personality Psychology is well-written, and more important, it is engaging. I would even go so far as to say that the student reading this will feel like he or she is involved in a conversation with the author. Even better, Jim McMartin manages this without being condescending and without piling on irrelevant anecdotes. . . . Another strength of the book is its format. I only recently examined a whole pile of undergraduate personality texts . . . and I do not believe I encountered even one that was not organized around major theorists/theories. Personality Psychology was thus a refreshing change. . . . And needless to say, I feel the past-present-future organization of the book is not only different but sensible and effective. --Leonard Bickman, University of Illinois at Chicago "Student-friendly and absolutely readable! Personality Psychology puts the theories into focus, into a compact and understandable form." --Liz Orrell, Student, California State University, Northridge,