structure for the topic is provided by the three volumes themselves, the con-
tents of which are consistent with the following conception of personality:
A full accounting of a person’s life requires an examination of the unique pat-
terning of dispositional traits, characteristic adaptations, and life narratives
that characterize that life, all grounded ultimately in the evolutionary demands
of the species and, at the same time, complexly influenced by culture.
(McAdams & Pals, 2006, p. 210)
Volume 1, titled Trait Psychology across Cultures, focuses on the cross-
cultural study of dispositional traits. Dispositional traits refer to broad
dimensions of individual differences such as extraversion and conscientious-
ness that many psychologists view as biologically based basic tendencies or
temperaments. Volume 2, titled Culture and Characteristic Adaptations,
focuses on the study of characteristic adaptations and life narratives across
cultures as well as aspects of personality and adjustment associated with
bilingualism/biculturalism and intercultural experiences. Characteristic
adaptations refer to the self-concepts, emotions, motives, values, beliefs,
and so forth that account for additional individual differences and that may
result from the interaction of basic tendencies and environmental influen-
ces, including culture (McCrae & Costa, 2008). Life narratives refer to the
integrated personal stories that individuals construct to attain a sense of
meaning, coherence, and identity in their lives. Finally, Volume 3, titled
Evolutionary, Ecological, and Cultural Contexts of Personality, addresses
the evolutionary and ecological pressures, dimensions of culture, and neuro-
logical substrates that are associated with cultural and individual differences.
Readers of the three volumes should obtain a fairly thorough picture of the
current status of the field as well as future directions for research. This is
important because a more complete understanding of human personality
will result from the study of people in all cultures, not just those in a particu-
lar country such as the United States.
The purpose of this introductory chapter is threefold. First, I provide a
historical overview of the field, also noting, where relevant, how early devel-
opments presaged current efforts. Second, I offer brief overviews of each of
4 The Praeger Handbook of Personality across Cultures
Table 1.1 (Continued)
Question Most Relevant Chapter Contributions
What are the unique conceptual and
methodological challenges in
investigating personality across cultures,
and what methods are used to address
them?
Allik & Realo, Vol. 1, Chapter 7
van de Vijver & He, Vol. 1, Chapter 9
