Mayer, J. D. (1998). A Systems Framework for the field of personality. Psychological Inquiry, 9, 118-144.

This article represents a major statement of the Systems Framework for Personality Psychology (see also the more recent 2005 article, below). It begins with a discussion of fieldwide frameworks, and examines frameworks in biology and sociology. Then, it presents and develops the Systems Framework. That is, the four topics of the framework -- Identification, Parts, Organization, and Development -- are spelled out. The article also goes over the various definitions of terms (e.g., structure, dynamics) as well as classification systems (e.g., of parts) that had been developed as part of the system to that point.

Mayer, J. D. (1999). A framework for the study of individual differences in personality formations. In J. A. Singer & P. Salovey (Eds.), At play in the fields of consciousness (pp. 143-173). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

This chapter examines a provisional classification system for "personality formation" -- more often known as personality types. The nature of personality types and their importance for personality psychology are described. Then, a formal sorting of different classes of personality types is discussed.

Mayer, J. D. (2001). Primary divisions of personality and their scientific contributions: From the trilogy-of-mind to the Systems Set. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 31 (4), 449-477.

This article collects, compares, and contrasts divisions of personality such as motivation, emotion, and cognition, or the id, ego, and superego, and discusses issues surrounding them. Primary divisions of personaltiy are discussed. The fact that multiple divisions of personality are possible is examined. Then criteria are established for good versus less-good divisions. A new division of mind -- the Systems Set -- is examined in relation to earlier divisions, and the possibility is raised that it may meet the established criteria better than earlier divisions.

Mayer, J. D. (2003). Structural divisions of personality and the classification of traits. Review of General Psychology, 7, 381-401.

This article examines an application of the Systems Set. Seventy traits are assigned by judges to the various areas of personality that they most closely describe. Judges show considerable agreement as to trait placement. Implications for personality assessment are discussed.

Mayer, J. D. (2004). A classification system for the data of personality psychology and adjoining fields. Review of General Psychology, 8, 208-219.

It has been nearly 50 years since the last thorough classification of the types of data employed in personality psychology -- e.g., self-report, objective tests, L-data, etc. Starting with the idea that a new classification of data types is important to the field, the Systems Framework is used to examine the sorts of data possible. The framework's positioning of the person and the person's surrounding life space are depicted. Then, data is classified according to its sources (e.g., from within personality or from observers of personality), and the mental processes of the person it draws on (e.g., memory or immediate self-judgment).

Mayer, J. D. (2004). How does psychotherapy influence personality? A theoretical integration. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60, 1291-1315.

This article considers how psychotherapy change agents influence specific areas of personality -- those of the Systems Set. Fifty-two change techniques, drawn from a number of different psychotherapy approaches, are sorted into the areas of personality that clinicians believe them to influence. The sort reveals defined classes of therapeutic change agents from across theoretical orientations and is suggestive of the ways in which personality can be altered.

Mayer, J. D. (2005). A tale of two visions: Can a new view of personality help integrate psychology? American Psychologist, 80, 294-307.

This article provides the most recent and best overview to-date of the Systems Framework, why it is important, and its major aspects.  Covered are new ways of looking at personality, its data, how personality can be divided, and how personality can be changed.  The article examines the importance of personality psychology in relation to psychology as a whole.

Brackett, M. A., & Mayer, J. D. (2006-2007). The life space: A framework and method to describe the individual's external traits. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 26 (1-2), 3-41.

This article describes the most extensive measure of the life space to-date, and examines findings from its use, including a look at the key dimensions of the life space.  It considers the significance of life space dimensions in relation to personality assessment generally.

Mayer, J. D. (2007). Personality: A systems approach (The Allyn & Bacon 1st Edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

This is a standard-length (i.e., 600 pp) textbook developed for an undergraduate personality psychology course, published by Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.  To learn more, please refer to the book's web site (linked in the reference).