Following a theorist-by-theorist approach to personality theories, this book uncovers how the personal histories, conflicts, and intentions of each theorist contributed to his or her portraits of people. Theories are introduced with scrupulous attention to historical, experimental, and clinical research.

Beneath the Mask presents classical theories of human nature while emphasizing the theorist's progression of ideas. The eighth edition continues to discuss the ideas of personality theorists developmentally. This account of personality theory incorporates the personal origins of ideas to highlight the links between the psychology of each theorist and that theorist's own psychology of persons. It also explores how the personal histories, conflicts, and intentions of the theorist entered that thinker's portrait of people.