Theories of Personality

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

From Aristotle to Sigmund Freud and Abraham Maslow, countless theories and concepts for
understanding personality have been proposed. Throughout history, these and other great minds sought
to answer questions not only about what personality is and how best to describe it, but also what causes
personality differences, including those that make people more or less functional and resilient.

Some theories are still being tested, while others have fallen out of favor. Some compete while others
complement one another. A look at some major ideas in personality psychology, both historical and
recent, offers a sense of the many ways to think and talk about this complex subject.