Caricatures of the NPA Personality Types

by A.M. Benis, Sc.D., M.D. You may have heard the conventional wisdom that "many, many genes" contribute to personality, so "there is no such thing as a personality type." If you have already made up your mind in this direction, perhaps this book is not for you. We take the contrarian view: not only do personality types exist, but they can be readily identified if one knows what to look for. We show that a few basic traits are inherited, and that combinations of the traits not only give rise to personality types, but they also explain WHY the types behave as they do. The types in this book are presented as caricatures, but they come to life as living and breathing individuals. In fact, it is very likely that you, the reader, will recognize yourself as one of them. The underlying theory explains the concepts of narcissism, perfectionism, aggression and resignation. It clarifies the distinction between personality and temperament, as well as relationships of dominance and submission and of "morbid dependency." A vignette is included that describes a symbiotic relationship called "the power behind the throne," where the Power is a perfectionistic-aggressive individual bent on domination. The book is illustrated with caricatures of well-known individuals, and it includes a synopsis of the NPA model, referencing in particular the pioneering work of Karen Horney. Paperback 164 pp., illus., glossary, index.