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Basic Definitions in Personality Psychology: Challenges for Conceptual Integrations.

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Jana Uher at University of Greenwich
Jana Uher
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Abstract

Personality psychology is fragmented across heterogeneous subfields each focussing on particular aspects of individuals and from particular paradigmatic perspectives. Attempts for integration into overarching theories as that presented in the target article are therefore important. But the ideas proposed build on vague and often circular definitions of basic terms and concepts that hamper advancement and integration. My critique from philosophy-of-science perspectives pinpoints central problems and presents alternative concepts to help overcome them. A metatheoretical definition highlights the core ideas underlying common personality concepts and opens new avenues for conceptual integration.
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Original citation: Uher, Jana (2017) Basic definitions in personality psychology: Challenges
for conceptual integrations. European Journal of Personality, 31 (5). pp. 572-573.
Full text available: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/87730/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2128
ISSN: 0890-2070 (Print), 1099-0984
Official URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1002/per.2128
© 2017 European Association of Personality Psychology
Abstract:
Personality psychology is fragmented across heterogeneous subfields each focussing on
particular aspects of individuals and from particular paradigmatic perspectives. Attempts for
integration into overarching theories as that presented in the target article are therefore
important. But the ideas proposed build on vague and often circular definitions of basic terms
and concepts that hamper advancement and integration. My critique from philosophy-of-
science perspectives pinpoints central problems and presents alternative concepts to help
overcome them. A metatheoretical definition highlights the core ideas underlying common
personality concepts and opens new avenues for conceptual integration
Keywords:
personality; behaviour; individual differences; concept; theory; development; process; state;
trait; trait level; structure
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