The preface and第一章 of the book "Pattern and Growth in Personality" by Gordon W. Allport provide an overview of the author's approach to the study of personality. Allport emphasizes the importance of understanding individuality within the context of broader psychological research. He argues that while psychology should not neglect universal traits, it must also focus on the unique patterns and structures of individual personalities. The book aims to bridge the gap between general psychological theories and the study of specific individuals, highlighting the need to understand the internal organization and coherence of the individual. Allport discusses the challenges of studying individuality in a scientific context, noting that while science tends to focus on broad, universal laws, individuality is characterized by unique and complex patterns. He criticizes the tendency in psychology to reduce personality to common traits or statistical norms, arguing that this approach fails to capture the true complexity and uniqueness of individuals. The preface also outlines the structure of the book, which includes sections on the approach to personality, development, structure, assessment, and understanding. Allport emphasizes the importance of integrating general psychological principles with an idiographic perspective, focusing on the internal organization and coherence of the individual. He suggests that the psychology of personality should occupy an intermediate position between nomothetic and idiographic approaches, combining general principles with a focus on individual differences. The chapter "Psychology and Individuality" delves into the concept of individuality, comparing it to universal and group norms. Allport argues that while universal norms and group norms are useful for understanding general traits, they do not capture the unique patterns of individual personalities. He emphasizes the need to study the internal organization and coherence of the individual, rather than reducing personality to a sum of separate traits or dimensions. Overall, the preface and第一章 set the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the science of personality, advocating for a balanced approach that respects both the general and the unique aspects of human nature.The preface and第一章 of the book "Pattern and Growth in Personality" by Gordon W. Allport provide an overview of the author's approach to the study of personality. Allport emphasizes the importance of understanding individuality within the context of broader psychological research. He argues that while psychology should not neglect universal traits, it must also focus on the unique patterns and structures of individual personalities. The book aims to bridge the gap between general psychological theories and the study of specific individuals, highlighting the need to understand the internal organization and coherence of the individual. Allport discusses the challenges of studying individuality in a scientific context, noting that while science tends to focus on broad, universal laws, individuality is characterized by unique and complex patterns. He criticizes the tendency in psychology to reduce personality to common traits or statistical norms, arguing that this approach fails to capture the true complexity and uniqueness of individuals. The preface also outlines the structure of the book, which includes sections on the approach to personality, development, structure, assessment, and understanding. Allport emphasizes the importance of integrating general psychological principles with an idiographic perspective, focusing on the internal organization and coherence of the individual. He suggests that the psychology of personality should occupy an intermediate position between nomothetic and idiographic approaches, combining general principles with a focus on individual differences. The chapter "Psychology and Individuality" delves into the concept of individuality, comparing it to universal and group norms. Allport argues that while universal norms and group norms are useful for understanding general traits, they do not capture the unique patterns of individual personalities. He emphasizes the need to study the internal organization and coherence of the individual, rather than reducing personality to a sum of separate traits or dimensions. Overall, the preface and第一章 set the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the science of personality, advocating for a balanced approach that respects both the general and the unique aspects of human nature.