“Very much a must-read book for personality assessment specialists and their students....destined to become another classic and a want-to-read book for many psychologists.”

—Canadian Psychology


“This book articulates a vision of the theory and practice of personality assessment that will inform beginners and experts alike. Wiggins' portrayal of different traditions in the field highlights the goals and accomplishments of each approach, and successfully transmits the excitement and fascination with assessment that is characteristic of practitioners. This is not a 'how-to-do-it' text, but a thoughtful, scholarly, and readable consideration of central questions in assessment. Beginning students will find this volume a welcome introduction to personality assessment vivified by a multifaceted study of a single case; more advanced readers will find a coherent vision that integrates theory and practice. There is no comparable treatment of the scientific and practical foundations of personality assessment.”

—Daniel J. Ozer, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside


“In this long-awaited book, one of the recognized giants of personality assessment has summarized the history and state of the art of five assessment paradigms. Wiggins' approach might be described as 'zealous eclecticism': his broad scholarship is infused with genuine enthusiasm for each paradigm. He offers a theoretical integration in a chapter on agency and communion, and has assembled a cast of experts to illustrate their methods in what will doubtless become a celebrated case history. This is an essential text for anyone who assesses personality. It is suitable for use in graduate-level clinical psychology courses, as well as personality courses for graduates and advanced undergrads.”

—Robert R. McCrae, PhD


“This book is the mature work of a wise and gifted scholar and writer. It beautifully describes the essence of five approaches to personality assessment. From the opening pages, the reader is engaged—and rewarded—with a sympathetic yet balanced appreciation of each approach. Using his own rich personal experiences and his encyclopedic academic knowledge, Jerry S. Wiggins has provided numerous impressive insights into fascinating ideas and the people who generated them.”

—Leonard M. Horowitz, PhD, Department of Psychology, Stanford University