Preface to the third edition

Summary

This new edition includes two new chapters, on personality disorders (Chapter 13), and personality in the workplace (Chapter 14). All the other chapters have been revised and updated. The amount of updating gives an interesting commentary on the development of personality research during the last 20 to 30 years. The chapter on psychoanalysis needed the least updating, because research on empirical verification of Freudian theories of personality seems to have largely dried up. Personal construct psychology is still active, but seems to generate therapy and guidance rather than research. The chapters on trait and factor approaches have needed extensive alteration, because criticisms and reformulations continue to proliferate.

On a personal level, I have continued to be active in the applied areas, using personality tests to select staff for a range of employers. I have also been involved in the publication and development of personality tests, including the California Psychological Inventory (formerly, but not presently) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (ongoing).