Personality Development in Adulthood

After many years of neglect, the nature of personality development in adulthood is now recognised as a topic worthy of scholarly attention. Questions that have long fascinated psychologists - such as: Are personalities shaped across the life span, or are they completely formed by the end of adolescence? And if changes do occur over the life span, do they reflect a smooth and seamless transition, or are disruptive shifts and changes inevitable? - can now be answered. Designed as a text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on adulthood Personality Development in Adulthood first elucidates three common approaches to adult personality development: } 'early-formation' theories such as psychoanalysis and Berne's life script theory } stage theory of psychosocial development represented by Erikson } dialectic analysis which poses on-going, irreconcilable tensions between basic needs. Each approach is described, the methods used to evaluate them considered, and the quality of evidence examined. The second half of the book applies concepts and findings from each perspective to a multitude of aspects of adulthood, including occupational and career shifts, sex-role development, marriage and other intimate relationships, sexual behaviour, changes in values, and attitudes toward death and dying.Wrightsman, Lawrence S. is the author of 'Personality Development in Adulthood' with ISBN 9780608097909 and ISBN 060809790X.