This I have learned from over 40 years of personality research

Journal/Book: J Personality. 1997; 65: Box 90660, Durham, NC 27708-0660. Duke Univ Press. 3-32.

Abstract: During the over 40 years in which I have conducted personality research, I have had a number of insights about the research process that I thought would be worth sharing: an awareness of the human side of science; lessons from the person-situation debate; lessons from comparing research on highly ego-involving natural events, such as sport parachuting, with laboratory analogues; the realization of what is wrong with the concept of the Freudian unconscious and what should be done to replace it; and awareness of pervasive biases in the journal-reviewing process. Perhaps the one most general lesson I have learned is that the advancement of psychology as a cumulative, integrative science is hampered not so much by its conceptual complexity as by the difficulty of humankind to view itself objectively, with honesty, courage, and a willingness to surrender illusions.

Note: Article Epstein S, Univ Massachusetts, Dept Psychol, Tobin Hall, Amherst,MA 01003 USA

Keyword(s): CROSS-SITUATIONAL CONSISTENCIES; EXPERIENTIAL SELF-THEORY; BEHAVIOR; PSYCHOLOGY; STABILITY; ENHANCEMENT; PEOPLE; SEARCH; VERIFICATION; AGGREGATION

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