Individual Differences and Personality provides a student-friendly introduction to both classic and cutting-edge research into personality, mood, motivation and intelligence, and their applications in psychology and in fields such as health, education and sporting achievement.
Including a new chapter on 'toxic' personality traits, and an additional chapter on applications in real-life settings, this fourth edition has been thoroughly updated and uniquely covers the necessary psychometric methodology needed to understand modern theories. It also develops deep processing and effective learning by encouraging a critical evaluation of both older and modern theories and methodologies, including the Dark Triad, emotional intelligence and psychopathy. Gardner’s and hierarchical theories of intelligence, and modern theories of mood and motivation are discussed and evaluated, and the processes which cause people to differ in personality and intelligence are explored in detail. Six chapters provide a non-mathematical grounding in psychometric principles, such as factor analysis, reliability, validity, bias, test-construction and test-use.
With self-assessment questions, further reading and a companion website including student and instructor resources, this is the ideal resource for anyone taking modules on personality and individual differences.
Preface
1. Introduction to individual differences
2. Personality by introspection
3. Measuring individual differences
4. Depth psychology
5. Factor analysis
6. Broad trait theories of personality
7. Emotional intelligence
8. Reliability ans validity of psychological tests
9. Narrow personality traits
10. Sub-clinical and antisocial personality traits
11. Biological, cognitive and social bases of personality
12. Structure and measurement of abilities
13. Ability processes
14. Personality and ability over time
15. Environmental and genetic determinants of personality and abilities
16. Psychology of mood and motivation
17. Applications in health, clinical, counselling and forensic psychology
18. Applications to education, work and sport
19. Performing and interpreting factor analyses
20. Constructing a test
21. Problems with tests
22. Integrations and conclusions
Appendix A Correlations
Appendix B Code of fair testing practices in education
Index
Biography
Colin Cooper lectured in Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast for 20 years before emigrating to Canada. He is the author of several books on personality, intelligence and psychological measurement and of numerous research articles. He was elected president of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences from 2021-2023.
'This fourth edition of Cooper's classic book is the most comprehensive and detailed description of the history, theory, research and applications from the diverse field of individual differences and personality. It will be the primary reference book until the next edition.' — Don Saklofske, University of Western Ontario, Canada
'This book is the reason why I have never considered writing an introduction to individual differences and personality. Cooper’s volume can take the interested reader from zero knowledge to Master’s level expertise in the field. I am delighted to be able to recommend this latest, fully updated edition to anyone interested in differential psychology and its methodologies.' — K. V. Petrides, University College London, UK
'A comprehensive update of an already essential text for psychology students. This new edition reflects current trends in the field from Cooper’s own critical lens.' — Professor Robert Vaughan, York St John University, UK
'This text contains a breadth and depth of information not typically provided by related texts; it will be a welcome addition to students (and educators) studying or working in this field.' — Dr Thomas Hunt, University of Derby, UK
