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Individual Differences and Personality,

Edition 4

Editors: By Michael C. Ashton

Publication Date: 29 Mar 2022

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Individual Differences and Personality, Fourth Edition provides a comprehensive overview of research regarding what personality is and how and why it differs between people. This book begins with a description of the study of personality and then presents basic principles of personality measurement, the concept of personality traits, and the major dimensions of personality variation. Further chapters review personality change and stability, biological causal mechanisms, genetic and environmental influences, and evolutionary adaptive function. Personality disorders are examined as are life outcomes (such as relationships, work, and health) that are predicted by personality characteristics. In addition, the book examines important individual differences beyond personality, such as mental abilities, religious beliefs, political attitudes, and sexuality.

Revisions to the fourth edition include updates to all chapters and substantial new content. For example, the developmental change chapter includes new studies of long-term stability, and the biological bases chapter includes new research about the effects of dopamine-like substances on impulse control. The genetics chapter has been heavily revised to cover recent meta-analyses and large-scale studies of the heritability of personality traits. In the chapter on the evolutionary function of personality, the discussion of sex differences is expanded to include cross-cultural variation. The chapter on personality and life outcomes includes new coverage of rating the personality of one's hypothetical ideal partner. The chapter on mental ability has updates on brain volume and IQ and on motivation and IQ.

Key Features

Contains both theory and research
Examines the impact of personality on life outcomes
Includes new content from meta-analyses
Retains chapters and organization with fully updated material
Explores environmental, genetic and evolutionary perspectives
Presents an accessible style that is suitable for courses on individual differences

About the author

By Michael C. Ashton, Professor of Psychology, Brock University, Ontario, Canada

1. Basic Concepts in Psychological Measurement
2. Personality Traits and the Inventories that Measure Them
3. Personality Structure Classifying Traits
4. Developmental Change and Stability of Personality
5. Biological Bases of Personality
6. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Personality
7. The Evolutionary Function of Personality
8. Personality Disorders
9. Personality and Life Outcomes
10. Mental Ability
11. Vocational Interests
12. Religion and Politics
13. Sexuality