Pt. I. The nature of personality traits -- 1. The trait concept and personality theory -- 2. Persons, situations and interactionism -- 3. Personality across the life span -- 4. Stable traits and transient states -- 5. Alternative views of personality: challenges to trait theory -- Pt. II. Causes of personality traits -- 6. Genes, environments, and personality traits -- 7. The psychology of traits -- 8. The social psychology of traits -- Pt. III. Consequences and applications -- 9. Stress -- 10. Traits and health -- 11. Abnormal personality traits -- 12. Personality, performance and information processing -- 13. Applications of personality assessment -- 14. Conclusions.