Explorations in Personality

In 1938, Henry Murray taught us how to study personality the correct way - often the long and winding way. Seven decades later, our methods are more refined, but we are still struggling to recapture the profound and artistic vision of the person that he championed. This anniversary edition of his classic work reminds us that while our job as personologists is not yet finished, we can draw upon Murray's spirit of inquiry for inspiration as we continue our own explorations in personality. * Robert A. Emmons, University of California, Davis, USA *
It is just grand to have Henry A. Murray's seminal book in print once again. When it first came out in 1938, this book had a provocative and insightful effect, urging psychologists to study personality holistically and in depth and emphasizing the complex interactions between individual, social, and cultural characteristics. As underscored by McAdams' insightful foreword, Murray's book is as important now as it was then. * Salvatore R. Maddi, University of California, Irvine, USA *
This is a long overdue publication of one of the true classics in the history of personality psychology. It describes a viewpoint on personality that has remained alive despite the ups and downs of personality psychology as a subdiscipline, a view that captures the entirety of a person. What a delight to see the book now once again available outside the library. And Dan McAdams' masterly foreword puts the book in context and reminds the reader why it is so important in the history and current life of our discipline. * Drew Westen, Emory University, USA *
A re-issue of the classic Explorations by Murray and his associates-now with McAdams' excellent introductory map of the personal, intellectual, and institutional landscape-is welcome and useful. In the seventy years since its first appearance, many of the book's path-breaking concepts and methods, especially those related to motivation, have become established and well-charted landmarks in the field of personality. Nevertheless, 21st century students of the person will still find many worthwhile uncharted topics that merit continued exploration: concepts such as 'need-integrate', 'gratuities', 'fusion and subsidization of needs', 'time-binding', and 'regnant processes', among others. At the same time, historians of the social sciences will welcome access to this sprawling archive of interdisciplinary excitement, created by an extraordinary group of pioneers who worked in a unique historical time and place. * David G. Winter, University of Michigan, USA *