The Person: His and Her Development Throughout the Life Cycle

by Theodore Lidz

Since its publication more than ten years ago, The Person has been accepted as the definitive text of personality development.

Genres: Psychology

615 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1968

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodore Lidz' The Person, the subtitle of which was changed to avoid sexist implication in later editions, is a developmental psychology book written for medical students by a psychoanalyst known for his work on schizophrenia. Consequently, it is not dumbed down. In fact, as a Psychology major in seminary, I was pleasantly surprised that our developmental course was taught by a medical doctor and that he selected this thorough and well-regarded text.

Although Lidz comes from a psychoanalytic tradition, he is not heavy handed about it. He was an American psychoanalyst, indeed, he was the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical School of Yale at the time he wrote it and had, therefore, the rough edges of his psychological training pretty well worn smooth. Also, as a medical doctor himself, there is a good deal of explanation of the purely physiological changes that occur from fetal development through maturation.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. I first read this as a postgraduate and found it illuminating. I still reread sections from time to time, and should probably revisit the whole thing as a refresher. I would have loved to have Lidz for a trainer.