People are the deadliest invasive species in the history of the earth. People have the potential to kill every living thing and, in certain instances have already done so (e.g. passenger pigeon, western black rhinoceros, great auk) or are on their way to doing so (e.g. sea turtle, elephant, tiger, polar bear). Given their frightful potential and worldwide presence, it would be useful to know something about people. Personality psychology is the “go-to” discipline for understanding people; personality psychology is the only discipline whose primary focus is the nature of human nature. What does personality psychology tell us about human nature? The answer depends on whom you ask, or more precisely, to which personality theory you subscribe.

Keep reading to learn more about the history of personality theory, different theoretical approaches, and the role of personality in organizational and leadership performance.

Why do people fall for the psychological tricks that scammers use? Knowing how to avoid scams isn’t easy because the warning signs aren’t always clear. And sometimes our personality characteristics make us more vulnerable to scamming.