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Theories of Personality
The 7th edition of this trusted introduction to personality centers on the premise that personality theories are a reflection of the unique cultural background, family experiences, personalities, and professional training of their originators. The book begins by acquainting students with the meaning of personality and providing them with a solid foundation for understanding the nature of theory, as well as its crucial contributions to science. The chapters that follow present twenty-three major coverage of each theory also encompasses a biographical sketch of each theorist, related research, and applications to real life. The primary focus of this revision was updating the theory chapters to reflect the most recent research.
672 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1990
133 people are currently reading
1295 people want to read
About the author
Jess Feist
19 books6 followersJesse John Feist was an American professor of psychology and author. Born in Spearville, Kansas, he excelled in athletics and academics, earning a B.A. from St. Mary of the Plains College, an M.A. from Wichita State University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Kansas. Feist spent his career at McNeese State University, where he chaired the Psychology Department for 17 years and received the Distinguished Professor Award. He co-authored widely used psychology textbooks, including Theories of Personality and Health Psychology. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he was an avid runner, golfer, and St. Louis Cardinals fan. He was married to Mary Jo McComb for 51 years, and they had five children. Feist retired in 2006 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 27, 2015
Very well written. However, the book concentrates on the "classical" personality psychology.
It is fairly weak on trait theories. Likewise, it pretty much leaves out all the more recent theories, and by recent I mean the last 30-40 year. That is, it completely leaves out Narrative theories, Personal Project Analysis and goal theories, various positive psychology theories (Character Stregnths etc.), the adaptive unconscious, various mindset theories etc. And of course HEXACO, but that is expected as the book was puplished in 2008.
Hence, if you are interested in the classical ideas on personality psychology (Psychodynamic, Humanistic/existential, Learning theories and, somewhat superficial, trait theories), this is an excellent book. However, don't let it be your only book on the subject, because then you will lose out on so many hugely interesting theories and subjects.
My review pertain to the 6th edition. However, while the 8th edition contains new info (evolutionary psychology), it still omits most modern personality psychology.
It is fairly weak on trait theories. Likewise, it pretty much leaves out all the more recent theories, and by recent I mean the last 30-40 year. That is, it completely leaves out Narrative theories, Personal Project Analysis and goal theories, various positive psychology theories (Character Stregnths etc.), the adaptive unconscious, various mindset theories etc. And of course HEXACO, but that is expected as the book was puplished in 2008.
Hence, if you are interested in the classical ideas on personality psychology (Psychodynamic, Humanistic/existential, Learning theories and, somewhat superficial, trait theories), this is an excellent book. However, don't let it be your only book on the subject, because then you will lose out on so many hugely interesting theories and subjects.
My review pertain to the 6th edition. However, while the 8th edition contains new info (evolutionary psychology), it still omits most modern personality psychology.
September 14, 2018
از کتاب شولتز بسیار کامل تر بود. ترجمه ی روانی هم داشت.
November 6, 2018
ترجمه عالی ، روان و کامل وقتي در مورد روان صحبت ميشود اندکی گنگ و انتزاعی است روان چیست ? أیا کارکرد ذهن است یا بازتاب روح وتجلی آن در ذهن ، روانشناسی علم شناخت رفتار است ، چند رویکرد متفاوت در روانشناسی وجود دارد ، رفتارگراها می گویند رفتار فرد باید اصلاح شود و اینجا شناختی ها تفکر را اصلاح می کنند تا دید فرد نسبت به هر مسئله ای تغییر کند و زاویه ی دید جدید بتواند بر اختلال پیروز شود ، استرس بد ، ذره ذره انباشته می شود تا یک اختلال را بوجود بیاورد اختلالی که یقینا عامل اختلال های دو قطبی و اسکیزوفرنی است ، بیاییم از استرس بکاهیم حداقل در جامعه ی کوچک گودریدز که مدام می خواهیم عیب جویی کنیم و. تنش را بهتر از مهر می پسندیم و رواجش می دهیم ، نمی توانید محبت کتید و مهر بورزید حداقل دشمنی نکنید ،
October 23, 2015
This is a textbook about the various theories of personality in psychology. For the purposes of the book and for purposes of psychological study, personality as a construct is defined as "a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person's behavior" (p. 4). The textbook I read is the seventh edition (it has since been updated, and I will soon read that for a course), which covers the following kinds of personality theories: psychodynamic, humanistic/existential, dispositional, and learning theories.
One of the benefits of this textbook is that the author Jess Feist evaluates each theory at the end of every chapter according to how useful it has been as a theory and also in terms of the theory's overarching view of human nature. The criteria the author looks at for whether the theory is useful is (1) how well it has generated research, (2) whether the theory is falsifiable (that is, whether it could in principle be disproven), (3) its organization of data (integrating well what is currently known about human behavior and personality development coherently), (4) its guide to action (that is, the theory's relevance to other areas outside of the psychological domain, including with parents, teachers, politicians, and so on), (5) its internal consistency (that is, a theory that has premises that are logically compatible with its other premises), and (6) its parsimony (how simple and straightforward the theory would be to explain phenomena as compared to other theories in terms of simplicity and straightforwardness). The dimensions of human nature that the author looks at for each theory revolve around various philosophical issues, issues related to (1) free will v. determinism for thought and behavior, (2) pessimism v. optimism vis-a-vis human beings, (3) causality v. teleology in the explanation of human behavior, (4) biological v. social influences in shaping personality, (5) a focus on conscious elements v. unconscious elements determining human thought and behavior, and (6) the focus on uniqueness v. similarities among human beings and making judgments about human beings. You can read for yourself as to how the theories stack up based on the above criteria for usefulness of the theories and in terms of the pictures of human nature they create.
Although I enjoyed the textbook and the author's honesty, regarding the theoretical criteria, in many respects the fact that this textbook contains so many theories about personality that are false looks to me to be embarrassingly bad. Imagine opening up a physics textbook and having upward to a few hundred passages devoted to Greek theories of bodies in motion and bodies at rest. Imagine reading page after page of descriptions that have such principles as the following: (1) Bodies fall toward the ground because near the ground is where a body's natural position is. (2) Bodies fall more quickly as they get closer to the ground because they are more excited to be near the ground as they get closer to it. The first principle I just gave is essentially meaningless. The second is false and attributes human intentions to falling bodies. Reading this textbook about personality theories was, for me, much like reading those principles I just wrote. Many of the personality theories advocate false or meaningless principles, some advocate principles that are neither provable nor disprovable, some advocate principles based on little empirical evidence, and so on. The state of personality theory in psychology is embarrassingly bad if so much of this bad philosophy can still dominate the arena of how we think about personality. It's like physics, pre-Newton.
One of the benefits of this textbook is that the author Jess Feist evaluates each theory at the end of every chapter according to how useful it has been as a theory and also in terms of the theory's overarching view of human nature. The criteria the author looks at for whether the theory is useful is (1) how well it has generated research, (2) whether the theory is falsifiable (that is, whether it could in principle be disproven), (3) its organization of data (integrating well what is currently known about human behavior and personality development coherently), (4) its guide to action (that is, the theory's relevance to other areas outside of the psychological domain, including with parents, teachers, politicians, and so on), (5) its internal consistency (that is, a theory that has premises that are logically compatible with its other premises), and (6) its parsimony (how simple and straightforward the theory would be to explain phenomena as compared to other theories in terms of simplicity and straightforwardness). The dimensions of human nature that the author looks at for each theory revolve around various philosophical issues, issues related to (1) free will v. determinism for thought and behavior, (2) pessimism v. optimism vis-a-vis human beings, (3) causality v. teleology in the explanation of human behavior, (4) biological v. social influences in shaping personality, (5) a focus on conscious elements v. unconscious elements determining human thought and behavior, and (6) the focus on uniqueness v. similarities among human beings and making judgments about human beings. You can read for yourself as to how the theories stack up based on the above criteria for usefulness of the theories and in terms of the pictures of human nature they create.
Although I enjoyed the textbook and the author's honesty, regarding the theoretical criteria, in many respects the fact that this textbook contains so many theories about personality that are false looks to me to be embarrassingly bad. Imagine opening up a physics textbook and having upward to a few hundred passages devoted to Greek theories of bodies in motion and bodies at rest. Imagine reading page after page of descriptions that have such principles as the following: (1) Bodies fall toward the ground because near the ground is where a body's natural position is. (2) Bodies fall more quickly as they get closer to the ground because they are more excited to be near the ground as they get closer to it. The first principle I just gave is essentially meaningless. The second is false and attributes human intentions to falling bodies. Reading this textbook about personality theories was, for me, much like reading those principles I just wrote. Many of the personality theories advocate false or meaningless principles, some advocate principles that are neither provable nor disprovable, some advocate principles based on little empirical evidence, and so on. The state of personality theory in psychology is embarrassingly bad if so much of this bad philosophy can still dominate the arena of how we think about personality. It's like physics, pre-Newton.
February 17, 2021
«Անձի հոգեբանության տեսությունները» #MustRead ա թեմայով հետաքրքրվողների համար
December 19, 2015
The most comprehensive book about theories of personality with updated research files included.
October 17, 2019
ترجمه روان و عالی.
به نظرم دربین کتاب های شخصیت بهترین کتاب همین است.
به نظرم دربین کتاب های شخصیت بهترین کتاب همین است.
November 19, 2024
I enjoyed it I thought it was very enlightening.
August 6, 2011
My all time favorite! Too bad I haven't yet learned personality psychology in my own campus. I always loved non-scientific part of psychology, and this book represents it. The psychodynamic parts get the biggest portion here, because those fathers of psychodynamic have decent theories of personalities. They are the trigger of the studies of personality.
What I really love from this book is that this book isn't really a scientific book. It's a scientific-philosophic book. Perhaps that's the reason why students in my campus must have taken human philosophy course before begin to read this book.
Not really recommended though, for non-psychology students. Especially if you are looking for personality tests.
What I really love from this book is that this book isn't really a scientific book. It's a scientific-philosophic book. Perhaps that's the reason why students in my campus must have taken human philosophy course before begin to read this book.
Not really recommended though, for non-psychology students. Especially if you are looking for personality tests.
January 27, 2018
A very well-organized, comprehensive introduction to theories of personality that covered both abstract, philosophical ideas on humanity and human nature, some of which are empirically defined, and those that were not as per the confines of scientific measurements, still offered deep insights into human nature. A great book for the novice and intermediate students that will introduce them to the science and philosophy of human personality, as well as for the advanced students who are looking for a refresher, to see the ideas and insights from an organized, non-pretentious framework.
March 14, 2018
A textbook that deals the different theories of personalities.
Used with Liberty University Online's Psychology of Personality.
Used with Liberty University Online's Psychology of Personality.
April 16, 2021
At page 366 I had to drop this book. After pushing through page and page of unscientific bs I had enough. There were practically less than five pages of actual science in the first half of this book. It focuses so much on psychodynamic "theories" that I began suspecting I was reading a textbook on the archaic history of personality psychology.
Karl Popper developed the principle of Falsifiability in order to distinguish the pseudoscience of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler from real science like the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein.
The book starts with the theories of those two and only gets worse. One can read so much about infants wanting to kill their fathers and fuck their mothers before calling it quits.
Its ideas such as psychodynamic theory that marginalized psychology to be considered part of the humanities. Thus it greatly saddens me that an undergrad text should spend so much time celebrating these men and their armchair speculations.
If you wish to learn about personality psychology I suggest you start with David Buss's text on personality. It starts with the Big Five and the HEXACO model, The prevailing paradigm of current personality research. This is in sharp contrast to Feist's rather historic text.
Karl Popper developed the principle of Falsifiability in order to distinguish the pseudoscience of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler from real science like the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein.
The book starts with the theories of those two and only gets worse. One can read so much about infants wanting to kill their fathers and fuck their mothers before calling it quits.
Its ideas such as psychodynamic theory that marginalized psychology to be considered part of the humanities. Thus it greatly saddens me that an undergrad text should spend so much time celebrating these men and their armchair speculations.
If you wish to learn about personality psychology I suggest you start with David Buss's text on personality. It starts with the Big Five and the HEXACO model, The prevailing paradigm of current personality research. This is in sharp contrast to Feist's rather historic text.
October 1, 2023
Sebenarnya buku ini hanya salah satu buku referensi yang diberikan oleh dosen-dosenku saat aku mengambil mata kuliah Psikologi Kepribadian di semester 2, tapi setelah lulus mata kuliahnya.. Aku justru berpikir kalau ini buku akan tetap seru dan berkesan untuk dibaca kapan saja untuk mahasiswa psikologi.
Dalam buku ini, duo Feist & Roberts menjelaskan teori kepribadian dengan cukup detail. Dari mulai background hidup setiap tokoh, alasan kenapa tokoh itu kemudian membentuk sebuah aliran psikologi, penjelasan mengenai aliran psikologinya, bahkan sampe ke konflik antar tokohnya juga diceritain.
One knowledge yang aku bawa selamanya setelah baca buku ini adalah menyadari bahwa the famous psychologist tuh juga banyak yang problematik. Bahkan ada juga tokoh yang aku baru tau di semester 7 ini problematiknya sampe bisa bikin alat ukur psikologi bareng selingkuhannya (bjir moment bgt, I know).
Terus other thing yang aku pelajari dari buku ini juga secara ga langsung tuh adalah.. Aku gaboleh terlalu jahat sama diriku sendiri ketika aku berbuat salah. As a human being, my understanding of human theories won’t 100% prevent me from making mistakes, sama aja kaya the great psychologist yang juga pernah berkonflik sama dirinya sendiri dan juga sama orang lain.
Lastly, menurut aku buku ini sangat amat worth to buy untuk mahasiswa psikologi. Pun kalo merasa kesulitan baca yang versi English, udah ada kok yang Indonesian translated version punya Penerbit Salemba Humanika.
Dalam buku ini, duo Feist & Roberts menjelaskan teori kepribadian dengan cukup detail. Dari mulai background hidup setiap tokoh, alasan kenapa tokoh itu kemudian membentuk sebuah aliran psikologi, penjelasan mengenai aliran psikologinya, bahkan sampe ke konflik antar tokohnya juga diceritain.
One knowledge yang aku bawa selamanya setelah baca buku ini adalah menyadari bahwa the famous psychologist tuh juga banyak yang problematik. Bahkan ada juga tokoh yang aku baru tau di semester 7 ini problematiknya sampe bisa bikin alat ukur psikologi bareng selingkuhannya (bjir moment bgt, I know).
Terus other thing yang aku pelajari dari buku ini juga secara ga langsung tuh adalah.. Aku gaboleh terlalu jahat sama diriku sendiri ketika aku berbuat salah. As a human being, my understanding of human theories won’t 100% prevent me from making mistakes, sama aja kaya the great psychologist yang juga pernah berkonflik sama dirinya sendiri dan juga sama orang lain.
Lastly, menurut aku buku ini sangat amat worth to buy untuk mahasiswa psikologi. Pun kalo merasa kesulitan baca yang versi English, udah ada kok yang Indonesian translated version punya Penerbit Salemba Humanika.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
ᯓ★ four stars! - A textbook is still a book, so this one is counted in my reading year challenge :D
That feeling of finishing the entire required reading of a whole textbook is unmatched. We literally had to go cover-to-cover of this in my Theories of Personality class. The number of sleepless nights is exhausting, however, this book is a good starting point for being more familiar with different psychological theories and goes much in-depth on each key topic and theory. Each theory was explained so well (though, personally, the 9th edition was better writing-style-wise); it also presents new and updated related research in each chapter by the theorist. However, there are still some psychological schools of thought that weren't included; most of them were modern psychology. Nonetheless, this book is great for elaborating complex topics in simple terms, easily digestible even when half of my eyes are closed due to sleep deprivation (lol).
That feeling of finishing the entire required reading of a whole textbook is unmatched. We literally had to go cover-to-cover of this in my Theories of Personality class. The number of sleepless nights is exhausting, however, this book is a good starting point for being more familiar with different psychological theories and goes much in-depth on each key topic and theory. Each theory was explained so well (though, personally, the 9th edition was better writing-style-wise); it also presents new and updated related research in each chapter by the theorist. However, there are still some psychological schools of thought that weren't included; most of them were modern psychology. Nonetheless, this book is great for elaborating complex topics in simple terms, easily digestible even when half of my eyes are closed due to sleep deprivation (lol).
August 19, 2019
This was the first book that I read where many different theories of personality/psychology was discussed. It's a rather easy and simple read and I like how each chapter focuses on the biography of each author and links their theories to the theorist's own personalities and attitude towards the world.
It is also interesting to know how the theories and the science of 'coming up with theories' evolved. and how similar and different the different theories are.
I haven't read another similar book to compare it with. While I had a hard time going through the beginning chapters of psycho-analysis because I do not like Freud much, I liked to go through chapters that fascinated me (e.g. Maslow).
It is also interesting to know how the theories and the science of 'coming up with theories' evolved. and how similar and different the different theories are.
I haven't read another similar book to compare it with. While I had a hard time going through the beginning chapters of psycho-analysis because I do not like Freud much, I liked to go through chapters that fascinated me (e.g. Maslow).
April 24, 2023
5 ⭐️ it’s such a good textbook, the format to explain the theories is so good. i think it’s presented in such an interesting way, and i absolutely loved the way it was set out. personality theories are overall so incredibly interesting and i’m glad i had the chance to read this. at first, i was kind of scared about having to read the whole thing, but it turned out to be so so good.
July 5, 2017
Very clear explanation with quite simple words. The only thing is that it's not complete enough, at least for me. For example, Thorndike and Frankl's theories are not in the book (but to be honest literature on those are quite hard to be found).
May 22, 2018
Very interesting book, learn a lot while I was in my psychology class, while reading this book. It gave some important information when it came to personality of human identity. I had to read this book for my psychology of personality class.
September 22, 2019
Really good over view of some of the main theories of personality. It’s not too in depth but it’s a solid introduction as the title says.
I read this as a textbook for psych 356 intro to personality
I read this as a textbook for psych 356 intro to personality
July 20, 2022
De todas as leituras obrigatórias que eu fiz para a faculdade, essa com certeza foi a minha favorita. Diferentemente das outras, eu consegui aproveitar melhor a experiência. Mas confesso que mal posso esperar para ler uma boa farofa para me alienar KKKKKKKKK. Ter equilíbrio é sempre bom, né? KKKKK
March 1, 2019
Excellent study! Great overview of the differing theologies.
May 7, 2019
A heart for this book
April 7, 2020
Very comprehensive. Example situations are simple and easy to understand. And the biographies are incredibly interesting.
January 5, 2022
Awesome book
May 27, 2022
Very informative book I read about psychology. I'm a graduate student. I definitely, will be re-reading again.
May 18, 2023
Very good.
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September 13, 2024i forgot to log(?) this but i passed this course and am now a sophomore!!! hooray !!! thank you feist&feist !!!
December 11, 2025
As a psych student, Hell yeah!! I enjoyed this so much
June 6, 2016
For those people who are studying psychology, this is a must read, specifically those individuals who are learning about the theories of personality. Read it sporadically, not cover-to-cover, unless you are a student. This book is filled with the major personality theories from Freud to George Kelly. This is more than a handbook of personalities, it is the thoughts and the backgrounds of those individuals who have studied personalities and offered reasons behind those personalities. Theories of Personalities provide biographical information as well, which is a bonus. If you are into psychology or even education this is a great book to help you understand why people do the things they do. It's about motivation and learning.
December 23, 2014
Had to read this cover to cover to look for hints of hope for boards. Well, it did help. A lot! The back stories of each theorist helped me understand more about their theories. I've made a mental note (*and I'm publishing it here so that I'll remember) to reread this next year so that I'll unearth more and more about the theories that suspends the psychological perspective of life into existence.
After reading this, I learned to respect Maslow a lot.
The critique for each theory at the end part of each chapter is awesome. Parsimoniously explained and well-related to current views. Updated researches on the theories are also included.
After reading this, I learned to respect Maslow a lot.
The critique for each theory at the end part of each chapter is awesome. Parsimoniously explained and well-related to current views. Updated researches on the theories are also included.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews