chp. 13 Flashcards
Personality
Uniquely expressed characteristics that influence behaviors, emotions, thoughts, and interactions
Personality traits
Particular, predictable, flexible characteristics
Personality disorder
An enduring, rigid pattern of inner experience and outward behavior that leads to significant problems and psychological pain for self and others
Personality Disorder checklist
- Individual displays a long-term, rigid, and wide-ranging pattern of inner experience and behavior that leads to dysfunction in at least two of the following realms:
- Cognition
- Emotion
- Social interactions
- Impulsivity. - The individual’s pattern is significantly different from ones usually found in his or her culture.
- Individual experiences significant distress or impairment.
Personality Disorders
- Symptoms last for
- Among the most ___ disorders to treat
- Comorbidity
- Symptoms last for years
- Among the most difficult psychological disorders to treat
- Affect around 15 percent of the U.S. population at some point in life
- Comorbidity is common
DSM-5 identifies ten personality disorders, which are organized into three categories
clusters
-Odd or eccentric behavior
Paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders
-Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior
Antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders
-Anxious or fearful behavior
Avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders
Why do some theorists challenge the use of the DSM-5 categorical approach to personality disorders?
Which alternative approaches do they propose?
Odd or eccentric behavior
Paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders
Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior
Antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders
Anxious or fearful behavior
Avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders
“Odd” Personality Disorders
clusters-
People with these disorders display behaviors similar to, but not as extensive as
Few people with these disorders seek
Cluster of “odd” personality disorders includes
- Paranoid personality disorder
- Schizoid personality disorder
- Schizotypal personality disorder
People with these disorders display behaviors similar to, but not as extensive as, schizophrenia
Few people with these disorders seek treatment; treatment success is limited
Paranoid personality disorder -Characterized by deep --Limited close -Excessive trust in -Blame more common in -Psychodynamic -Cognitive views
Characterized by deep distrust and suspicion of others
-Limited close relationships; cold and distant affect
-Excessive trust in own ideas and abilities; critical of weakness and fault in others particularly at work
-Blame others, bear grudges, very sensitive
Experienced by about 4.4 percent of U.S. adults; more common in men than in women
- Psychodynamic (childhood mistreatment; demanding parents)
- Cognitive views (maladaptive assumptions)
How Do Theorists Explain
Paranoid Personality Disorder?
Psychodynamic theorists trace the pattern back to early interactions with
Cognitive theorists suggest that
Biological theorists propose
Psychodynamic theorists trace the pattern back to early interactions with demanding parents
Cognitive theorists suggest that maladaptive assumptions such as “People are evil and will attack you if given the chance” are to blame
Biological theorists propose genetic causes and have looked at twin studies to support this model
Paranoid personality disorder (same information as previous)
- Psychodynamic:
- Cognitive-behavioral:
- Biological:
Theoretical explanations
- Psychodynamic: Linked to patterns of early interactions with demanding parents
- Cognitive-behavioral: Tied to broad maladaptive assumptions
- Biological: Genetic causes
- Little systematic research
Schizoid personality disorder
- Characterized by persistent avoidance of
- Individual focuses primarily on unaffected by ____
- Preference for being
- -Focus mainly on
- -Often seen as
- more in what gender
Characterized by persistent avoidance of social relationships; little demonstration of emotions
- Individual focuses primarily on self and is generally unaffected by praise or criticism
- Preference for being alone; weak social skills
- Lack of intimacy interest; often marital or family problems
- Focus mainly on themselves
- Often seen as cold, humorless, and dull
Present in 3.1 percent of U.S. adults; slightly more common in men than in women
How Do Theorists Explain Schizoid Personality Disorder?
- Many psychodynamic theorists, particularly object relations theorists, link schizoid personality disorder to an unsatisfied need for
- Cognitive theorists propose that people with schizoid personality disorder suffer from deficiencies in their
Many psychodynamic theorists, particularly object relations theorists, link schizoid personality disorder to an unsatisfied need for human contact
Cognitive theorists propose that people with schizoid personality disorder suffer from deficiencies in their thinking
Schizoid personality disorder
Theoretical explanations
Psychodynamic-unnaccepting
-Cognitive-behavioral: inability to pick up
- Psychodynamic: Rooted in unsatisfied need for human contact; unaccepting and/or abusive parents; objects relations theory
- Cognitive-behavioral: Tied to deficiencies in thinking; inability to pick up emotional cues; language and motor skills delays
Schizotypal personality disorder
Characterized by a range of interpersonal problems, marked by
–Individuals believe unrelated events pertain to
-Demonstrate difficulty keeping attention
-what gender
- Characterized by a range of interpersonal problems, marked by extreme discomfort in close relationships, odd (even bizarre) ways of thinking, and behavioral eccentricities
- Individuals believe unrelated events pertain to them in important ways; bodily illusions
- Demonstrate difficulty keeping attention focused; conversation is typically digressive and vague, even sprinkled with loose associations
- Affects 3.9 percent of adults; slightly more males than females
How Do Theorists Explain Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
- biological high
- family __
Schizotypal symptoms linked to
- Some of the same biological factors found in schizophrenia, such as high dopamine activity
- Family conflicts and psychological disorders in parents
- High activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine, enlarged brain ventricles, smaller temporal lobes, and loss of gray matter
Schizotypal personality disorder
Theoretical explanations
-family
-biological high
- Similar factors are at work in schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia and related disorders
- Symptoms are often linked to family conflicts and to psychological disorders in parents
- Schizotypal personality disorder is linked to some of the same biological factors found in schizophrenia, such as high dopamine activity
- Links to mood disorders, especially depression, have been found
Cluster of “dramatic” personality disorders includes
Dramatic, emotional, or erratic problems make it almost impossible to establish ____
-Disorder causes are not
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Histrionic personality disorder
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Dramatic, emotional, or erratic problems make it almost impossible to establish relationships
- Disorder causes are not well understood; treatments are ineffective to moderately effective
Antisocial personality disorder (psychopaths, sociopaths)
- persistently disregard and
- must be at lease what age
- higher rates of ____
- more common in
People with antisocial personality disorder persistently disregard and violate others’ rights
Person must be at least 18 years of age to receive this diagnosis (DSM-5)
- Lie repeatedly, reckless, and impulsive
- Little regard for other individuals and can be cruel, sadistic, aggressive, and violent
- Higher rate of alcoholism, substance use disorder, or childhood conduct disorder and ADHD
-Found in 3.6 percent of U.S. adults, four times more common in men than in women
How Do Theorists Explain
Antisocial Personality Disorder?
-Psychodynamic theorists propose that disorder begins with absence of
-Many behaviorists suggest antisocial symptoms may be
-Cognitive view posits that people hold attitudes that trivialize the importance of
Biological view proposes
Psychodynamic theorists propose that disorder begins with absence of parental love, leading to a lack of basic trust
Many behaviorists suggest antisocial symptoms may be learned through modeling or unintentional reinforcement
Cognitive view posits that people hold attitudes that trivialize the importance of other people’s needs
Biological view proposes hormonal and brain abnormalities
Antisocial personality disorder Theoretical explanations -Psychodynamic theorists -Behavioral: -Cognitive: -Biological-lower
- Psychodynamic theorists: Absence of parental love leads to lack of basic trust; research links to childhood stress
- Behavioral: Antisocial symptoms learned through operant conditioning, modeling, imitation
- Cognitive: Difficulty recognizing others’ viewpoints or feelings
- Biological: Biological predisposition; lower serotonin activity; dysfunctional brain circuits
Borderline personality disorder (psychopaths, sociopaths)
- major shifts in
- _____interpersonal relationships
- -Prone to bouts of ____
- more common in
Characterized by instability, including major shifts in mood, unstable self-image, and impulsivity
- Unstable interpersonal relationships
- Prone to bouts of anger, which sometimes result in physical aggression and violence; also may direct impulsive anger inward and harm themselves
Found in 5.9 percent of U.S. adults; 75 percent are women
borderline personality: Their impulsive, self-destructive behavior can include:
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Reckless behavior, including driving and unsafe sex
- Cutting themselves
- Suicidal threats and actions (peaks young adulthood)
- Have intense conflict-ridden relationships but struggle with fears of abandonment
- Psychodynamic, Biological, Biosocial, Sociocultural theories
How Do Theorists Explain Borderline Personality Disorder?
-Psychodynamic theorists consider early
Object-relations theorists propose a lack of early
Biological theorists suggest biological- Leo
Psychodynamic theorists consider early parental relationships when explaining the disorder
Object-relations theorists propose a lack of early acceptance or abuse/neglect by parents
Biological theorists suggest biological abnormalities, such as overly reactive amygdala, underactive prefrontal cortex, lower brain serotonin activity, and genetics, are linked.
boderline
Biosocial theory for personality disorder
sociocultural theory for personality disorder
Biosocial theory presents results from a combination of internal and external forces
Some sociocultural theorists suggest that cases of borderline personality disorder are particularly likely to emerge in cultures that change rapidly
Borderline personality disorder
Integrative explanations
Integrative explanations
- Biosocial: Combination of internal and external forces
- -Children have intrinsic difficulty identifying and controlling emotions; parents teach them to ignore their feelings
- Developmental psychopathology: Childhood traumas and dysfunctional parental attachments lead to flawed capacity for healthy relationships; positive factors can counter
- -Mentalization deficits
Histrionic personality disorder
- Individuals are extremely and continually seek to be
- Approval and praise are
- Some make suicide attempts, often to
- Individuals are extremely emotional and continually seek to be the center of attention
- -Engagement in attention-getting behaviors and always on stage
- -Approval and praise are lifeblood
- -Vain, self-centered, and demanding
- -Some make suicide attempts, often to manipulate others
- Found in 3.6 percent of U.S. adults; four times more common in men than in women
How Do Theorists Explain Histrionic Personality Disorder?
- Most psychodynamic theorists believe children experienced
- Cognitive theorists look at the lack of
- Sociocultural and multicultural theorists believe the disorder is caused in part by
Most psychodynamic theorists believe children experienced unhealthy relationships
Cognitive theorists look at the lack of substance and the extreme suggestibility found in people with the disorder
Sociocultural and multicultural theorists believe the disorder is caused in part by society’s norms and expectations
Histrionic personality disorder Theoretical perspective -psychodyanimic -cognitive-behavioral -sociocultural
Psychodynamic: Unhealthy relationships with cold, controlling parents in childhood; feelings of being unloved and fear of abandonment; dramatic crisis invented for protection
Cognitive-behavioral: Lack of substance and extreme suggestibility tied to self-focused and emotional behavior; search for others to meet needs related to sense of helplessness
Sociocultural/multicultural: Partially influenced by cultural norms and expectations
Narcissistic personality disorder
- generally
- lack of
- exaggeration of
- selective about
- Some make suicide attempts, often to
- more common in
People with narcissistic personality disorder are generally grandiose, need much admiration, and feel no empathy with others
- -Exaggeration of achievements and talents, often arrogance
- -Selective about friends; often favorable first impressions
- -Some make suicide attempts, often to manipulate others
- -Common among normal teenagers and does not usually lead to adult narcissism
Narcissistic personality disorder Theoretical perspectives -psychodynamic -object realtions -cognitive-behavioral -sociocultural theorists
- Psychodynamic: Focus on cold, rejecting parents
- Object relations: Focus on grandiose self-presentation; self-sufficiency replaces warm relationships
- Cognitive-behavioral: Propose narcissistic personality disorder may develop when people are treated too positively rather than too negatively in early life; overvalue self-worth
- Sociocultural theorists: See a link between narcissistic personality disorder and eras of narcissism in society
Cluster of “anxiety” personality disorders includes
Avoidant personality disorder
Dependent personality disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
People with these disorders typically display anxious and fearful behavior
As with most of the personality disorders, research is limited
Avoidant personality disorder
-Characterized by consistent discomfort and restraint in
Social avoidant personality disorder = fear of
–Social anxiety disorder = fear of
common in who
- Characterized by consistent discomfort and restraint in social situations, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation
- -Social avoidant personality disorder = fear of close social relationships
- -Social anxiety disorder = fear of social circumstances
- -The two disorders may reflect core psychopathology; should be combined
At least 2 percent of adults have avoidant personality disorder, men as frequently as women
Avoidant personality disorder
Theoretical perspectives
-Psychodynamic:
-Cognitive-behavioral:
- Theorists often assume avoidant personality disorder has the same causes as anxiety disorder; no clear research ties the two together
- Psychodynamic: Focus on shame and insecurity traced to childhood experiences
- Cognitive-behavioral: Harsh criticism in early childhood leads to expected rejection; failure to develop effective social skills
Dependent personality disorder
-Individuals have a pervasive, excessive need to be
-fear of
-reliance on others so the smallest decision
difficulty with
-common among who
Individuals have a pervasive, excessive need to be cared for
–Clinging and obedient; fear separation from loved ones; distressed, lonely, sad, and prone to self-dislike
–Reliance on others so the smallest decision cannot be made
–Difficulty with separation is central feature
Affects fewer than 1 percent of population; equal incidence among males and females
Dependent personality disorder Theoretical perspectives Psychodynamic: Object relations theory Behavioral: Cognitive.
Psychodynamic: Similar to depression
- Freudian: Unresolved conflicts during oral stage
- Object relations theory: Early parental loss or rejection prevents normal attachment and separation
- Other psychodynamic: Over involvement or overprotection
Behavioral: Unintentional clinging and loyal behavior rewarded by dependent parents
Cognitive: Maladaptive behaviors
- Inadequate and helpless to deal with the world
- Need to find a person to provide protection
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder Characterized by intense Unreasonably high -Tendency to be Difficulty expressing
Characterized by intense focus on orderliness, perfectionism, and control and resulting loss of flexibility, openness, and efficiency
- Unreasonably high standards for self and others and, fearing a mistake, may be afraid to make decisions
- Tendency to be rigid and stubborn
- Difficulty expressing affection; relationships are often stiff and superficial
As many as 7.9 percent of the adult population affected; men are twice as likely as women to display disorder
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Theoretical perspective
–Freudian:
–Cognitive-behavioral:
- Freudian: Overly harsh toilet training during anal stage; anal retentive and fixated
- Cognitive-behavioral: Illogical thinking processes
According to DSM-5, a pattern diagnosed as a personality disorder must “deviate markedly from the expectations of a person’s culture”
- _____of multicultural research is of special concern regarding borderline personality disorder
Lack of multicultural research is of special concern regarding borderline personality disorder
Clinical theorists have suspicions, but no compelling evidence, that cultural differences exist
Are There Better Ways to Classify Personality Disorders?
- Perhaps personality disorders should be described and classified by
- ______ theory of personality
-Significant problems posed by DSM-5’s current categorical approach
Perhaps personality disorders should be described and classified by dimensional approach
-“Big Five” theory of personality
-DSM-5 model: Personality disorder—trait specified
Important: The Dark Triad
-Trio of _____traits that work together to produce behaviors
Trio of “malicious” traits that work together to produce socially offensive behaviors (Garcia et al., 2018; Muris et al., 2017)
Big Five theory of personality and personality disorders
A large body of research conducted with diverse populations consistently suggests that the basic structure of personality may consist of five supertraits or factors
A large body of research conducted with diverse populations consistently suggests that the basic structure of personality may consist of five supertraits or factors
- Neuroticism-sensitve
- Extroversion
- Openness to experience
- Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness-he quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly
Personality disorder—trait specified: DSM-5’s proposed dimensional approach
Categorical approach assumes
–Problematic personality traits are either
-Personality disorder is either
–A person who suffers from a personality disorder is not markedly troubled by personality traits
Categorical approach assumes
- Problematic personality traits are either present or absent
- Personality disorder is either displayed or not displayed
- A person who suffers from a personality disorder is not markedly troubled by personality traits outside of that disorder
Personality disorder—trait specified
People whose traits significantly impair their functioning should receive a diagnosis of
–When assigning this diagnosis, clinicians would also identify and list the problematic traits and
- DSM-5 framers designed an alternative dimensional approach for possible use in a future revision
- -People whose traits significantly impair their functioning should receive a diagnosis of personality disorder–trait specified (PDTS)
- -When assigning this diagnosis, clinicians would also identify and list the problematic traits and rate the severity of impairment caused by them
Personality disorder—trait specified
According to the proposal, five groups of problematic traits would be eligible for a diagnosis of PDTS:
Negative affectivity
Detachment
Antagonism
Disinhibition
Psychoticism
-This dimensional approach to personality disorders may improve DSM-5’s current categorical approach