Psychology's Grand Theorists

This book is based on the premise that the theories on which the three dominant schools in psychology are based--psychodynamics, behavioral, and phenomenological--resulted in part from the personal experiences of the theorists who first originated them. It closely examines the lives and works of the three original theorists: Sigmund Freud for psychodynamics, B.F. Skinner for behavioral, and Carl Rogers for phenomenological. It is written with the premise that knowing the personal experiences of the theorists will provide the reader with a greater sense of intimacy with the theories, making them more engaging and memorable. The author explores the subjective sources of these theories to help determine if they are scientific truths or personal confessions. The book's clear and engaging writing style will appeal to a wide range of readers. Intended as a supplement in courses on personality, clinical theory, and/or the history of psychology, it will also appeal to clinicians, counselors, and psychotherapists who use one or more of these models as explanatory systems in their clinical work.

“"Amy Demorest has written an elegant and insightful book about how the personal lives of psychology's most well-known theorists deeply influenced the theories they produced. Her careful reading of autobiographical sources and her innovative analysis set new standards for scholarship in the study of eminent lives. This beautifully written book is a must-read for anybody interested in the nature and origins of personality theory, the history of psychology, or the psychological study of the individual person."--Dan P. McAdams, Ph.D. Northwestern University "Amy Demorest has put the person back at the center of personality theory....she shows how the individual psychologies and personal preoccupations of three giants in the field are reflected in their respective theories. Her accessible and fascinating study will be valued by undergraduate and graduate students, academic psychologists, psychotherapists, and others interested in the origins of seminal ideas."--Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey "This book is a winner....Professor Demorest tells compelling stories which draw readers in....She writes about the most influential thinkers in the field of psychology.... in a way that brings them to life... and she presents a model that can be applied to every major theorist, as well as every other person we meet in life."--Richard P. Halgin, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey "This book is a winner....Professor Demorest tells compelling stories which draw readers in....She writes about the most influential thinkers in the field of psychology.... in a way that brings them to life... and she presents a model that can be applied to every major theorist, as well as every other person we meet in life."--Richard P. Halgin, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst”

"Amy Demorest has written an elegant and insightful book about how the personal lives of psychology's most well-known theorists deeply influenced the theories they produced. Her careful reading of autobiographical sources and her innovative analysis set new standards for scholarship in the study of eminent lives. This beautifully written book is a must-read for anybody interested in the nature and origins of personality theory, the history of psychology, or the psychological study of the individual person."
—Dan P. McAdams, Ph.D.
Northwestern University

"Amy Demorest has put the person back at the center of personality theory....she shows how the individual psychologies and personal preoccupations of three giants in the field are reflected in their respective theories. Her accessible and fascinating study will be valued by undergraduate and graduate students, academic psychologists, psychotherapists, and others interested in the origins of seminal ideas."
—Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

"This book is a winner....Professor Demorest tells compelling stories which draw readers in....She writes about the most influential thinkers in the field of psychology.... in a way that brings them to life... and she presents a model that can be applied to every major theorist, as well as every other person we meet in life."
—Richard P. Halgin, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"Amy Demorest has written an elegant and insightful book about how the personal lives of psychology's most well-known theorists deeply influenced the theories they produced. Her careful reading of autobiographical sources and her innovative analysis set new standards for scholarship in the study of eminent lives. This beautifully written book is a must-read for anybody interested in the nature and origins of personality theory, the history of psychology, or the psychological study of the individual person."—Dan P. McAdams, Ph.D. Northwestern University

"Amy Demorest has put the person back at the center of personality theory....she shows how the individual psychologies and personal preoccupations of three giants in the field are reflected in their respective theories. Her accessible and fascinating study will be valued by undergraduate and graduate students, academic psychologists, psychotherapists, and others interested in the origins of seminal ideas."—Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

"This book is a winner....Professor Demorest tells compelling stories which draw readers in....She writes about the most influential thinkers in the field of psychology.... in a way that brings them to life... and she presents a model that can be applied to every major theorist, as well as every other person we meet in life."—Richard P. Halgin, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Amy P. Demorest

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