Lawrence S. Wrightsman

xi, 312 p. ; 25 cm

This stimulating book and its companion volume, Adult Personality Development: Theories and Concepts, reflect an expansion of the coverage of Wrightsman's initial book, Personality Development in Adulthood. The luxury of greater length has permitted an exploration of new topics, including the use of a wider variety of sources including scholarly articles and books, biographies, and case studies. Increased attention is devoted to creativity in adulthood, to learning and memory, to marriage stability, and other topics. The book provides a focus for a Psychology of Adulthood course that encourages students to look at the evolving nature of their own lives. Particular attention is given to developing an extensive set of references (over 700 in this volume) as an aid to scholars. -- Publisher description.

Using three broad theoretical perspectives (early-formation theory, stage theory, and dialectic analysis), Personality Development in Adulthood provides highly contrasting answers to these and other questions. Each perspective is described, the methods used to evaluate them are considered, and the quality of supportive evidence is examined. The book then applies concepts and findings from each perspective to numerous aspects of adulthood: occupational and career shifts, sex-role development, marriage and other intimate relationships, sexual behavior, changes in values, and attitudes toward death and dying. Examples of personality in such diverse figures as Luther and Nixon serve to illuminate and clarify the various methodologies presented.

ix, 191 p. : 28 cm