An updated edition of a much-acclaimed textbook providing a critical introduction to personality for psychology students.

1. Gideon's army: the study of individual differences; Part I. The Surface: 2. A rather dull person: personality as traits and factors; 3. Working for the Peace Corps: criticisms of traits and factors; Part II. Below the Surface 1: The Biological Line: 4. Brave new world: learning and habit models; 5. Eysenck's demon: biological accounts of personality; Part III. Below the Surface 2: The Phenomenal Line: 6. Tumbleweed or boulder? The phenomenal approach to personality; 7. I didn't get where I am today by reading stuff like this: explaining personality by the self-concept; Part IV. Below the Surface 3: The Motivational Line: 8. The ancient Greek export drive: motives and instincts; 9. The man who collects Bradshaws: psychodynamic accounts of personality; Part V. Examples: 10. The school bully: aspects of aggression; 11. Does peace prevent homosexuality? Theories of sexual orientation; 12. Bouncing back: resilience; 13. Is Hitler mad? Personality disorders; 14. Square pegs and round holes: personality in the workplace; 15. The line ahead: the future of personality research.

Mark Cook is a Lecturer in Psychology at Swansea University.