Adult Personality Development

Why do we as adults have the personality characteristics we do? No one explanation is accepted by all; however in this greatly expanded version of his earlier book Personality Development in Adulthood Wrightsman helps us understand and organize the three broad theoretical approaches to explain psychological changes during the period from adolescence to the onset of late adulthood. Each of these approaches--early formation theories stage theories and the dialectical approach--are described and contrasted in order to help us more easily compare our experiences with those of others. Case histories relevant current events and boxed inserts are used throughout the book to illustrate important concepts in a thought-provoking lively manner. Written in a compelling non-technical style the book is accessible to students and interested readers from all disciplines especially psychology clinical and developmental psychology aging family studies sociology gender studies and nursing.