Chapter 6 Vocabulary

Question 1

personality disorders

Answer 1

types of enduring patterns of inner experience and behaviour that deviate markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture, are pervasive and inflexible, and lead to distress or impairment

Question 2

ego syntonic

Answer 2

behaviour or feelings that are perceived as natural or compatible parts of the self

Question 3

ego dystonic

Answer 3

behaviour or feelings that are perceived to be foreign or alien to one’s self-identity

Question 4

paranoid personality disorder

Answer 4

type of personality disorder characterized by persistent distrust and suspiciousness of the motives of others

Question 5

schizoid personality disorder

Answer 5

type of personality disorder characterized by detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression

Question 6

schizotypal personality disorder

Answer 6

type of personality disorder characterized by acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behaviour

Question 7

ideas of reference

Answer 7

form of delusional thinking in which a person reads personal meaning into the behaviour of others or external events that are completely independent of the person

Question 8

antisocial personality disorder

Answer 8

type of personality disorder characterized by a chronic pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others

Question 9

psychopathy

Answer 9

type of personality pattern characterized by affective and interpersonal traits, such as shallow emotions, selfishness, arrogance, superficial charm, deceitfulness, manipulativeness, irresponsibility, sensation seeking, and a lack of empathy, anxiety, and remorse, combined with persistent violations of social norms, a socially deviant and nomadic lifestyle, and impulsiveness

Question 10

optimum level of arousal

Answer 10

level of arousal associated with peak performance and maximum feelings of well-being

Question 11

borderline personality disorder

Answer 11

type of personality disorder characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects and marked impulsivity

Question 12

splitting

Answer 12

term describing the inability of some people (especially people with borderline personalities) to reconcile the positive and negative aspects of themselves and others into a cohesive integration, resulting in sudden and radical shifts between strongly positive and strongly negative feelings

Question 13

histrionic personality disorder

Answer 13

type of personality disorder characterized by excessive need to be the centre of attention and to receive reassurance, praise, and approval from others. Such individuals usually appear overly dramatic and emotional in their behaviour

Question 14

narcissistic personality disorder

Answer 14

type of personality disorder characterized by grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy

Question 15

avoidant personality disorder

Answer 15

type of personality disorder characterized by avoidance of social relationships due to fears of rejection

Question 16

dependent personality disorder

Answer 16

type of personality disorder characterized by difficulties making independent decisions and by overly dependent behaviour

Question 17

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Answer 17

type of personality disorder characterized by rigid ways of relating to others, perfectionistic tendencies, lack of spontaneity, and excessive attention to details

Question 18

self psychology

Answer 18

Heinz Kohut’s theory that describes processes that normally lead to the achievement of a cohesive sense of self or, in narcissistic personality disorder, to a grandiose but fragile sense of self

Question 19

symbiotic

Answer 19

in Margaret Mahler’s object-relations theory, the term used to describe the state of oneness that normally exists between a mother and infant in which the infant’s identity is fused with the mother’s

Question 20

separation-individuation

Answer 20

in Margaret Mahler’s theory, the process by which young children come to separate psychologically from their mothers and to perceive themselves as separate and distinct persons

Question 21

problem-solving therapy

Answer 21

form of therapy that focuses on helping people develop more effective problem-solving skills