The Scientific Study of Personality
Will be published approx. on 3. August 2026
352 pages
978-1-040-97380-6 (ISBN)
Description
Originally published in 1952, The Scientific Study of Personality contains an account of experiments carried out at the Institute of Psychiatry (University of London) during the five years which had elapsed since the publication of Dimensions of Personality. These experiments were integrated into a consistent conceptual scheme of personality, description and development, covering neurotic and psychotic as well as 'normal' people.
The first chapters give an introduction to the principles of dimensional analysis as a scientific method; the central part of the book makes use of these principles in attempting to answer some of the main problems of personality analysis; the last part presents the application of the findings to a variety of practical problems. Among the fundamental problems submitted to experiment are the relation between neurosis and psychosis, the inheritance of emotional instability, the relative usefulness of 'atomistic' and 'gestalt' methods of approach, the verification of typological schemes, such as those of Kretschmer and Jung, the possibility of exact measurement of dimensions of personality, and the validity and reliability of the statistical method as compared with techniques using 'insight' and interpretation. Among the practical problems to which the results of these researches have been applied are the psychological after-effects of leucotomy, the prediction of work-efficiency of paroled mental defectives, the selection of students and nurses, and the work adjustment of factory workers.
This book is a re-issue originally published in 1952. The language used and views portrayed are a reflection of its era and no offence is meant by the Publishers to any reader by this re-publication.
The first chapters give an introduction to the principles of dimensional analysis as a scientific method; the central part of the book makes use of these principles in attempting to answer some of the main problems of personality analysis; the last part presents the application of the findings to a variety of practical problems. Among the fundamental problems submitted to experiment are the relation between neurosis and psychosis, the inheritance of emotional instability, the relative usefulness of 'atomistic' and 'gestalt' methods of approach, the verification of typological schemes, such as those of Kretschmer and Jung, the possibility of exact measurement of dimensions of personality, and the validity and reliability of the statistical method as compared with techniques using 'insight' and interpretation. Among the practical problems to which the results of these researches have been applied are the psychological after-effects of leucotomy, the prediction of work-efficiency of paroled mental defectives, the selection of students and nurses, and the work adjustment of factory workers.
This book is a re-issue originally published in 1952. The language used and views portrayed are a reflection of its era and no offence is meant by the Publishers to any reader by this re-publication.
Reviews / Votes
Reviews for the original edition:'In this reviewer's opinion, Eysenck's book was easily the most important publication in the entire field of psychology during the past year. It presents important experimental findings on a large number of controversial issues in personality theory and psychopathology; furthermore, the findings point to conclusions considerably at variance with current teaching. ... Whether the reader agrees or disagrees with the interpretations, he simply cannot afford to overlook Eysenck's results.' - E. Lowell Kelly in Annual Review of Psychology
'He has organized a large programme of research, consistently related to his aim; and the results are woven, with those of other psychologists working in the same institute, into an intricate yet distinct and coherent pattern. In many passages the exposition is provocative, and to some readers provoking; but in a field of knowledge dappled and sometimes wholly darkened by clouds of vagueness and compromising evasion, it is refreshing to have an author's standpoint and intention made quite plain.' - The Lancet
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Adult education
File size
54,70 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-97380-6 (9781040973806)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
H. J. Eysenck
The Scientific Study of Personality
Book
approx. 08/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€148.55
Not yet published
Person
Hans J. Eysenck (1916-1997) was born in Berlin of an old liberal family, and left Germany in 1934 as a protest against the Nazis. He studied at University College, London, where he obtained his B. A. and Ph.D degrees. During the war years he was research psychologist at the Mill Hill Emergency Hospital, and until 1947 was Senior Clinical Psychologist at Maudsley Hospital. The result of his war research was a book which gained a considerable reputation for him, Dimensions of Personality. At the time of original publication he was a lecturer in psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry (Maudsley and Bethlem Royal Hospitals) and Director of the Psychological Department. During 1949-1950 he was visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Content
Foreword by Aubrey Lewis. Introduction. 1. Science and Personality 2. The Dimensional Approach 3. The Neurotic Dimension: Operational Definition 4. The Neurotic Dimension: Objective Measurement 5. Heredity and Environment 6. The Psychotic Dimension 7. Applications of Dimensional Analysis 8. The Organization of Personality. Bibliography. Index.
