Personality Psychology as a Truly Behavioural Science

摘要

Personality psychology has been accused of neglecting behaviour—of devoting insufficientattention to what people actually do. The current paper addresses four important issuesregarding the study of behaviour as separate from other important psychologicalresponses-the definition of behaviour, the importance of studying behaviour, the strengthsand weaknesses of core methods through which behaviour is studied and the degree towhich behaviour actually has been studied in personality psychology over the past 15 years(along with information about the use of specific methods of studying behaviour).Analysis of publication trends indicates that behaviour is not studied to the degree itmerits; furthermore, it indicates that, when behaviour is studied, it is usually studied at avery generalized level relying on relatively weak methods. The current paper is offered asa starting point for focused discussion of these important issues, potentially enhancing thefield's standing as a truly behavioural science.