VIA Character Strengths: Theory, Research and Practice

A brand-new open textbook built around the Big Five personality traits. It covers how the model was discovered, how personality tests are checked for reliability and validity, the person-situation debate and how traits change across life.

Patrick Durkee

A university textbook that opens with personality traits, the Five-Factor Model, stability and personality assessment, then compares classic theorists from Freud and Horney to Rogers and Bandura. Each chapter ends with key vocabulary.

Chris Allen

A ready-to-teach unit from the American Psychological Association on personality perspectives, the Big Five traits and personality assessment. It includes lesson plans, class activities and critical-thinking exercises for high school teachers.

Simine Vazire

Ernst Kretschmer's classic theory of temperament, which linked body types to personality styles. A key historical text for anyone studying how psychologists first tried to classify temperament and character.

Ernst Kretschmer