The Art and Science of Personality Development

by Dan P. McAdams

Drawing on state-of-the-art personality and developmental research, this book presents a new and broadly integrative theory of how people come to be who they are over the life course. Preeminent researcher Dan P. McAdams traces the development of three distinct layers of personality--the social actor who expresses emotional and behavioral traits, the motivated agent who pursues goals and values, and the autobiographical author who constructs a personal story. Highly readable and accessible to scholars and students at all levels, the book uses rich portraits of the lives of famous people to illustrate theoretical concepts and empirical findings.

See also the Handbook of Personality Development , edited by Dan P. McAdams, Rebecca L. Shiner, and Jennifer L. Tackett.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Read For School

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2015

About the author

Dan P. McAdams is the Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Psychology and Professor of Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. A leading expert in personality psychology and narrative identity, McAdams explores how people construct life stories to shape their sense of self. He is the author of several influential books, including The Redemptive Self: Stories Americans Live By (2006), which examines themes of redemption in American life narratives, and The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning (2020), a psychological analysis of Trump's personality. His research has significantly contributed to understanding personality development, identity, and life storytelling.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely is not a book I would've picked up had it not been assigned to me, so I'll preface my thoughts with that.

I'd say there was a 50/50 split of moments where I really enjoyed reading this and moments where I would've gladly exchanged it for Stephanie Meyer. I do not particularly mind the eusocial approach to psychological development, but I do take issue with using 300 pages to express what could be said in 50. This is my inherent problem with the humanities–while I do appreciate their inherent beauty, I will always choose a concise yet thorough analysis/solution over a meticulous, somewhat meandering "consideration" of something. Ultimately, I believe this book was not suited to my personal intellectual goals, but it goes without saying that this does not mean I think it was bad. It was well-written, if not a bit over-written, and is what I think of when I imagine what a BA (as opposed to a BS) in CogSci is probably like. But like this book, that sort of program is not for me.

[Varsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting, but also very long! I read this book on the Kindle, and I didn't feel like I was really getting anywhere for most of it...

Overall, I did enjoy this book. McAdams makes the argument that human personality development is comprised of three levels: basic dispositional traits in childhood, motivated agency in teenage years/young adulthood, and storytelling in midlife through death. We are actors, then agents, then authors. The phrase is catchy, and after his careful presentation of evidence and examples, I feel mostly convinced that this is how humans develop.

It is slightly difficult to digest this book, however. We often think of ourselves/our personalities as entirely unique and different from others, and McAdams clearly shows us that we are not. Despite its length and some slow sections, this book was quite eye-opening and unique, and I recommend it to anyone who's truly interested in the topic!

[Barry Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A robust presentation on the development of personality, drawing on personality and developmental psychology, evolutionary biology (I had some issues here), affective and cognitive neuroscience, behavioral genetics, social psychology, life course sociality, and the interdisciplinary study of life narratives. The author describes personality as “a person’s characteristic variation on the evolved design for human nature” (p. 4). The three stages in which he presents this concept (and frames the book) are the Actor, the Agent, and the Author. These are presented in tabular form as follows, regarding Perspective, Content, Emergence, Focus, and Questions:

Social Actor
Content is temperament, dispositional traits, Emerges in Infancy, Focuses on the Present, Asks How do I act? How do I feel?

Motivated Agent
Content is personal goals, plans, projects, values, Emerges in Middle Childhood, Focus is Present and Future, Asks What do I want? What do I value?

Autobiographical Author
Content is narrative identity, Emerges in emerging adulthood, Focus is Past, Present, and Future, Asks What does my life mean? Who am i? What have I been? Who am I becoming?

Part One - Becoming an Actor
in the Beginning
The Actor Takes Stage, How We Perform Emotion
The Problem of Self-Regulation
The Actor Grows Up: How Traits Develop into Adulthood

Part Two - Becoming an Agent
The Age 5-7 Shift
The Motivational Agenda: What Agents Want
How Values Shape Agency: Morality, Religion, and Politics

Part Three - Becoming an Author
The Stories We Live By
Generative Lives, Redemptive Life Stories
The Sense of an Ending

Apart from the evolutionary focus of his writing, I found this book rich with insights on personality development. Referencing the writing of Roger Angell in New Yorker Magazine in 2014 (as he was ailing from numerous physical maladies), MacAdams noted his desire for connection in the following words: “Only connect, Angell tells us - as actors, agents, and authors. Bind ourselves to other people in the social groups that give our lives meaning. Strive to connect to others in ways that advance both own on lives and others. Artfully render our lives into life-affirming narratives of interpersonal communication. For brainy members of a eusocial species, like us, this is the better way to live” (p. 320).

The biblical concepts in these words are rich.

[Samara Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the only non-fiction text read for a university course that has ever inspired me to actually shed tears upon its completion (I was that moved!). McAdams has forged an extremely well-written and cohesive account of personality development over the course of the human lifespan that is sure to inspire not only plenty of personal lightbulb learning moments, but just as valuably, the ability to better differentiate others’ needs, values and motivations (even those who are “unlike” us) with more depth and understanding.

[Mihai Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible feat of refining the essence of personality, and putting it into a developmental story. I am hard-pressed to find another recent book of theoretical nature that drove me to have so many moments of revelation. And that, in a sense far superior of the religious one.
I recommend a slow read of the book.

[Alyssa Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

a thorough overview of personality development told through a storytelling mode, this book provides accessible means of understanding human psychological development on a holistic scale that emphasizes both what makes us unique and brings us together. the author also provides character vignettes of famous figures to help understand concepts and make them more relatable and fun to read about

[Laurie Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book on personality development, from personality traits, to goals, to narrative identity. Recommended to me by a leadership coach, but the scope is far wider than career development. Also a highly enjoyable read well written and with many interesting life stories, from Gandhi to Jay Z.

[Stephanie Guzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

to be fair i learned a lot of new things but oh my goodness the chapters were so long it caused me physical anguish sometimes. read for a summer class so i wouldn't have read it otherwise but it was very interesting!

[India · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad for a book that was a mandatory course requirement

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was somewhat dry, but an interesting read. It delves into some interesting areas of cause and effect with personalities and how they can evolve over time.

[Klarandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

great for beginner

[Marie Dmitrieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very easy and interesting to read (especially, if you love people and their life-path). However, the view that that author hold is very idealistic (he just describe, how the personality has to be developed) concerns more favorable life condition (Middle-class, economically developed societies) and have nothing to do with real life situation (other life conditions).
Thanks to the author for this ideal picture and a bunch of fascinating scientific facts from genetic and clinical psychology. Now I want to find something more about the reality.