Chapter 1    Introduction to Personality Theory11
fei75766_ch01_001-018.indd 11  02/06/20 10:41 AM(behaviorists, social learning theorists, andtraittheorists) andthose inclined toward 
theclinical andqualitative sideofpsychology (psychoanalysts, humanists, and
existentialists).
Although atheorist’s personality partially shapes hisorhertheory, itshould not
bethesoledeterminant ofthattheory. Likewise, youracceptance ofoneoranother 
theory should notrestonlyonyourpersonal values andpredilections. When evalu -
ating andchoosing atheory, youshould acknowledge theimpact ofthetheorist’s 
personal history onthetheory, butyoushould ultimately evaluate itonthebasis 
ofscientific criteria thatareindependent ofthatpersonal history. Some observers 
(Feist, 2006; Feist &Gorman, 1998) havedistinguished between science as process 
andscience as product. Thescientific process maybeinfluenced bythepersonal char-
acteristics ofthescientist, buttheultimate usefulness ofthescientific product isand
must beevaluated independently oftheprocess. Thus, yourevaluation ofeachofthe
theories presented inthisbook should restmore onobjective criteria thanonyour
subjective likesanddislikes.
What Makes a Theory Useful?
Auseful theory hasamutual anddynamic interaction withresearch data.First, athe-
orygenerates anumber ofhypotheses thatcanbeinvestigated through research, thus
yielding research data.These dataflowbackintothetheory andrestructure it.From 
thisnewly contoured theory, scientists canextract other hypotheses, leading tomore 
research andadditional data,which inturnreshape andenlarge thetheory evenmore. 
Thiscyclic relationship continues foraslongasthetheory proves useful.
Second, auseful theory organizes research dataintoameaningful structure 
andprovides anexplanation fortheresults ofscientific research. Thisrelationship 
between theory andresearch dataisshown inFigure 1.1.When atheory isnolonger 
Theory givesmeaning to dataTheoryHypothesis
Research
Research
data
Data reshape theory 
FIGURE 1.1  The Interaction among Theory, Hypotheses, Research, and Research Data.Final PDF to printer