Textbook

Personality and Individual Differences

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Overview

The study of individual differences is part of a well-established tradition in psychology that dates back more than a century. Individual differences researchers attempt to describe and explain how and why people differ, and what impact or consequences these differences have. Whereas most areas of psychology assume that every person is the same and hence attempt to explain the universal aspects of human behavior, individual difference theories are concerned with differences between people, or what makes everyone unique.

Personality and Individual Differences is a state-of-the-art undergraduate textbook that covers the salient and recent literature on personality, intellectual ability, motivation and other individual differences such as creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership and vocational interests.

The second edition is now in full colour, completely revised and updated with the most recent and cutting-edge data and analysis as well as many more real-life examples.

As well as introducing all topics relating to individual differences, this book examines and discusses many important underlying issues, such as the psychometric approach to latent variables, validity, reliability, and correlations between constructs.

An essential textbook for first-time as well as more advanced students of the discipline, Personality and Individual Differences provides grounding in all the major aspects of differential psychology.
In addition, a companion website containing additional teaching and learning resources can be found at www.wiley.com/college/chamorro-premuzic

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Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Chapter 1 Introducing Individual Differences - from Everyday to Psychological Questions
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Personality: A Commonsense Idea
1.3 Describing Individuals
1.4 Abnormality
1.5 Intelligence, Competition, and Adaptation
1.6 Predicting Success
1.7 Born Different?
1.8 Other Abilities
1.9 Variability and Change: Motivation and Mood States
1.10 Creativity
1.11 Leading the Way
1.12 Interests

Chapter 2 Personality, Part I
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Overview and Approaches
2.3 Definition of Personality Traits
2.4 History of Personality
2.5 Personality Traits and States: Dispositional vs. Situational Approaches
2.6 Eysenck's Gigantic Three and the Biological Basis of Personality Traits
2.7 Self-Report Inventories
2.8 The Biological Basis of Personality
2.9 Gray's Personality Theory
2.10 Cattell's 16PF and the Lexical Hypothesis
2.11 The Five Factor Model (Big Five)
2.12 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 3 Personality, Part II - Validating Personality Traits
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Testing Personality Theories
3.3 Personality and Social Behavior
3.4 Personality and Romantic Relationships
3.5 Personality and Performance
3.6 Personality and Health
3.7 Personality and Happiness
3.8 Current Developments Outside the Dispositional Paradigm
3.9 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 4 Psychopathology
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Defining Abnormality
4.3 Historical Roots of Psychopathology
4.4 Modern Approaches to Psychopathology
4.5 Integrative Approaches to Psychopathology: The Biopsychosocial Model
4.6 Diagnosis: Classifying Psychological Disorders
4.7 Major Psychological Disorders
4.8 Criticisms of the Diagnostic Approach
4.9 Dimensional View of Psychopathology and Personality Disorders
4.10 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 5 Intelligence, Part I
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Defining Intelligence
5.3 History of Intelligence Testing
5.4 Cattell's Theory of Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence
5.5 Genetic vs. Environmental Causes of Intelligence
5.6 Piaget and the Developmental Theory of Cognitive Ability
5.7 The Great Debate: G vs. Multiple Abilities
5.8 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 6 Intelligence, Part II - Validating Intelligence and Correlates of IQ (Causes and Consequences)
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Wechsler's IQ Scale
6.3 Intelligence at School and University: Educational Outcomes
6.4 In the Job: Occupational Outcomes of Intelligence
6.5 Intelligence, Longevity, and Health
6.6 Intelligence and Social Class
6.7 Race and Sex Differences in IQ: Facts, Controversies, and Implications
6.8 Sex Differences in IQ
6.9 Even More Basic: Decomposing Intelligence
6.10 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 7 Behavioral Genetics
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Early Foundations of Behavior Genetics
7.3 DNA: Some Background
7.4 The Power of Genes: Recent Evidence for The Heritability of Intelligence
7.5 Intelligence and Assortative Mating
7.6 The Importance of the Environment
7.7 Biological Effects on Intelligence: Why Do they Increase Across the Lifespan?
7.8 Genetic Causes of Personality Traits
7.9 Genetic Basis of Maladaptive Behaviors
7.10 Personality and Intelligence: Interplay Between Environment and Genes?
7.11 Implications for Upbringing and Education
7.12 Contradicting Genetics: The Flynn Effect
7.13 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 8 Beyond IQ - Theories of Hot Intelligence
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Streetwise Rather than Book Smart
8.3 Early Beginnings: Thorndike's Social Intelligence
8.4 Theoretical Importance of Social Intelligence
8.5 Early Problems
8.6 Recent Approaches: From Multidimensionality to Implicit Theories
8.7 Emotional Intelligence
8.8 Debate and Controversy Surrounding Emotional Intelligence
8.9 Origins and Measurement Problems of EQ
8.10 Trait Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Self-Efficacy
8.11 Practical Intelligence
8.12 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 9 Mood and Motivation
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Beyond or Underneath Traits
9.3 Defining Motivation
9.4 From Biological Reflexes to Psychological Self-Realization
9.5 Mood States
9.6 Structure of Mood
9.7 Situational Determinants of Mood
9.8 Dispositional Influences on Mood States
9.9 Integrative and Recent Approaches to Mood States
9.10 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 10 Creativity
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Definitions and Conceptualizations of Creativity
10.3 Creativity Across Different Psychological Paradigms
10.4 Differential Approaches to Creativity
10.5 Creativity and Intelligence
10.6 Creativity and Personality Traits
10.7 Testing Creativity
10.8 Creativity in Different Fields (From Arts to Science)
10.9 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 11 Leadership
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Approaches to Leadership
11.3 Behavioral Approaches: Leadership Styles
11.4 Leadership and Gender
11.5 Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 12 Vocational Interests
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Approaches to Vocational Interests
12.3 Linking Theory and Practice
12.4 Stability of Interests: Evidence for Dispositional Nature
12.5 Gender Differences in Vocational Interests
12.6 Person-environment Fit
12.7 Holland's Riasec Typology
12.8 Prediger's Three-Factor Model
12.9 Holland and the Big Five
12.10 Circumscription and Compromise: Gottfredson's Theory
12.11 Trait Complexes and Interests
12.12 Summary and Conclusions

Glossary
References
Index

Excerpts

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Author Information

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is a Reader in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and visiting professor at NYU in London.

New To This Edition

New full colour page design
More real-life (and informal) examples
20% more figures and tables to use as study-tools and summaries
Expanded sections on validity, temperament, creativity and hot intelligence
New material on protective and non-psychometric tests

Hallmark Features

Accompanying website featuring instructor material, further web resources and electronic versions of chapters
Covers BPS syllabus for differential psychology
Written by a rising star in the field of individual differences

Professor Reviews

‘‘The second edition of Personality and Individual Differences is bigger and even better than the first. The author has certainly kept up with the growing literature and is skilled in presenting it in a very approachable way. He has the ability to present technical issues and complex theories both clearly and succinctly and to make the topic enthralling and exciting, which is no mean feat.’’
Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology, University College London

‘‘This book is a comprehensive and refreshing contribution to the field, focusing on both historical perspectives and contemporary developments in personality and individual differences. The content is up-to-date and the historical context is given appropriate coverage, while the relevance of this work to our understanding of everyday life is clear throughout. Dr Chamorro-Premuzic has done a great service to the field with this text, which will be of value to anyone interested in individual psychological differences and their impact on human cognition and behaviour.’’
Dr. Viren Swami, Reader in Psychology, University of Westminster

‘‘This second edition of the acclaimed textbook by Chamorro-Premuzic offers significantly expanded content and top-of-the-range production values, while maintaining the accessible and engaging writing style of the original. Personality and Individual Differences will make an indispensable addition to the library of students (undergraduate as well as postgraduate) and researchers in the field of differential psychology.’’
K. V. Petrides, London Psychometric Laboratory, University College London

‘‘This textbook is an excellent recourse for psychology teachers and students providing superb coverage of the main areas of personality and individual differences. The chapters have been designed in a very student-friendly way to enhance critical thinking and understanding of key concepts, incorporating sound contemporary theories and evidence supported by rich examples from everyday life and common experience. A comprehensive book which makes a timely and important contribution to this field.’’
Dr Elias Tsakanikos, Senior Lecturer, Roehampton University