Persons in Context: Building a Science of the Individual

Walter Mischel's theoretical vision and discipline-changing research have established a new paradigm in psychological science. More so than any other volume, this book documents the scholarly creativity and methodological rigor with which Mischel's work has enhanced understanding of the dynamic relations between individuals and their contexts. Presented are cutting-edge perspectives on personality as a fundamental focus for the description, explanation, and optimization of human behavior and development across life. --Richard M. Lerner, PhD, Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science and Director, Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts University

This volume represents the recent progress that psychological science has made in unraveling the mysteries of personality. Going beyond static, context-free generalizations about personality, the contributors aim to capture the ways in which individuals' experiences and actions vary across different social contexts. In pursuit of this goal, they use sophisticated modeling and innovative measurements of the thoughts, feelings, and desires that comprise personal experience and that underlie the way individuals manage themselves in social situations. Not so long ago, a basic science of potentially idiosyncratic individuals in the social context was a bold, even quixotic, hope for the distant future. This important volume shows that we are now making big strides toward realizing this vision. --Yaacov Trope, PhD, Department of Psychology, New York University

Brick by brick, we build a science of the individual. On rare occasions, a master mason steps in, appoints a Palladian window in the perfect spot, and the sun comes pouring in. Walter Mischel is that master mason, and his contributions are honored in this book. The evolving science of the individual is at the center of each and every chapter, whether it is on temperament, intelligence, self-regulation, biology, or culture. The contributors are old hands at their craft, and together they have produced jewel-like pieces that reflect off each other to make their ideas about personality come alive. Ideal for graduate-level courses, this book tells the story of the remarkable progress that has been made in developing a science of the person. --Mahzarin R. Banaji, PhD, Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Department of Psychology, Harvard University