Personality Theories by Barbara Engler (2005, Hardcover, Student Edition)

The Seventh Edition of Personality Theories continues its sound tradition of providing accurate and thorough coverage via an easily accessible text enhanced by pedagogical features and a focus on critical thinking. Personality Theories is designed both to explain the major personality theories and to stimulate critical thinking about them. Each chapter focuses on one theory or group of theories and provides brief biographies that shed light on how the theories were formed. Engler also provides criteria for evaluating each theory and cites current research pertaining to that theory, in addition to integrating multicultural and gender-related issues throughout the text.

• New and Updated! Thinking Critically boxes throughout the text provide students with a clearer context for critical-thinking activities, presenting interesting activities that encourage students to analyze or apply key issues related to the theories discussed. The author has been selective in this edition, streamlining the number to retain the most effective pieces.
• To Learn More prompts in the text direct students to the web site where they will find a discussion of each topic as well as links for further research. The web modules posted at the Student Web Site cover topics such as the status of psychoanalysis today, recent existential theories, and the use of medication to treat depression.
• Updated! All content has been updated to reflect the status of current research on the theorists.
• Expanded coverage of research includes Levinson's work, in Chapter 6, and a new section on ethnic identity, encompassing work done by Cross, Parham and Helms, and Phinney.
• New coverage on Kernberg and social issues in Chapter 7 includes confidentiality, privacy, and his exploration of mature religiosity.
• New section on Five Factor Theory in Chapter 11 seeks to account for the research findings associated with the Five Factor Model. Chapter 11 also includes an expansion of the implications of the Five Factor Model for the diagnosis and analysis of dysfunctional behavior.
• A timeline added to the inside front cover provides a contextual reference for theorists' lives within historical events.
• Philosophical Assumption boxes have been revised to give students more structure and guidance in analyzing theorists' philosophical views. These sections in each chapter enable students to place a presented theory along several philosophical continuums.
• Philosophy, Science, and Art sections at the end of each chapter help students examine the mix of philosophy, science, and art that a theory represents.
• Unique final chapter on Zen Buddhism adds significant cross-cultural understanding of personality theory.