Written with an approachable, story-telling style, and grounded in current research, the book is an evidence-based text with integrated cultural references and the key building blocks of the subject matter: traits, the self, genetics, neuroscience, intrapsychic foundations, motivation and regulation, and cognition. The book also includes two mini-chapters to help students integrate across these foundations. Each chapter includes a self-assessment and a special Research Methods Illustrated section. Features an online instructor’s resource manual written by the author.