The journal's focus is on empirical research reports; however, specialized theoretical, methodological, and review papers are also published.

[2] Articles typically involve a lengthy introduction and literature review, followed by several related studies that explore different aspects of a theory or test multiple competing hypotheses.

Some researchers see the multiple-experiments requirement as an excessive burden that delays the publication of valuable work,[3] but this requirement also helps maintain the impression that research that is published in JPSP has been thoroughly vetted and is less likely to be the result of a type I error or an unexplored confound.

It includes studies of individual differences and basic processes in behavior, emotions, coping, health, motivation, and other phenomena that reflect personality.

[9] Non-fiction author Malcolm Gladwell writes frequently about findings that are reported in the journal.