Psychology's Grand Theorists

<p><i>Psychology's Grand Theorists</i> argues that the three schools in psychology that have been dominant historically--the psychodynamic behavioral and phenomenological--have resulted in large part from the personal experiences of their originators. Sigmund Freud B.F. Skinner and Carl Rogers each believed that he had discovered the truth about human nature yet their truths are entirely different. This book explores how the lives of these men influenced the divergent theories they developed through a close examination of letters diaries biographies autobiographies and professional writings. Uncovering the subjective sources of these theories the book gives the reader a greater sense of intimacy with each man's ideas and promotes critical inquiry into their scientific status. The book is written in an engaging style that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Intended as a supplement in courses on personality clinical psychology and/or the history of psychology it will also be of interest to clinicians or counselors who use one or more of these theoretical models in their therapeutic work.</p>