Personality psychology is getting personal: Advancing the field through personalization

The article titled "Personality psychology is getting personal: Advancing the field through personalization" by Modersitzki, Phan, McDonald, Wright, and Renner explores how the field of psychology can be strengthened by embracing personalisation in its theoretical frameworks, measurement strategies, and methodological designs.

The authors argue that traditional psychological research, which focuses primarily on population-level traits and between-person variability, falls short in capturing the dynamic and context-sensitive nature of individual personalities. They propose a shift that centres on person-specific tools and within-person methodologies such as intensive longitudinal designs and idiographic analyses to better understand how personality operates in daily life. This includes the use of N-of-1 trials and single-case designs. 

This approach is especially valuable because it acknowledges the temporal variability and contextual embeddedness of personality expression, paving the way for tailored interventions and more precise psychological assessments. Drawing on examples from psychotherapy, health, and educational research, the authors illustrate how a personalised lens can enhance both scientific understanding and real-world impact in personality psychology.

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Full reference:

Modersitzki, N., Phan, L. V., McDonald, S., Wright, A. G., & Renner, K. H. (2024). Personality psychology is getting personal: Advancing the field through personalization. European Journal of Personality, 08902070251316915.