Personality as Adaptation

Abstract

This chapter examines personality in nonhuman primates where personality is seen as a dynamic, whole-organism phenomenon. Whereas in humans, the concept of personality is applied to persisting differences between individuals, in the world of animal biology, it is a concept that also describes species differences in adaptation to the environment, as well as population differences within the same species. The idea that personality reflects adaptation—at the species, population, and individual levels—is discussed from comparative/ecological, developmental, and evolutionary perspectives. The evidence that personality reflects adaptation is then used to discuss the existence, and persistence, of personality disorders in humans. The authors conclude that a broader, comparative perspective on the phenomenon of personality can provide novel ideas about what personality is, how it develops, and the value that it provides for organisms.