indiv dif wk 6 Flashcards
diathesis stress metaphor
diathesis make ppl brittle, life stress delivers the blows that can make them crack
problem with diatheses stress model
potential relationships between diatheses and risk level
Many potential relationship between someones diatheses and risk levels:
- linear
- exponential
- step change (plateua stage 1,,3 then 4 shoots up)
problem with diatheses stress model
identifying personality diatheses
- could be several diatheses per disorder (e.g. diff personality types BUT also other diatheses that are not personality types such as genes…)
- There may be protective factors to MH. e.g. other personality triat, social support.
- Specific vulnerability hypothesis. Some diatheses may be more sensitive to certain types of stress than others
4 most extensively researched personality diatheses
- high autonomy
- high dependency
- self-critical personality type
- pessimistic explanatory style
high autonomy personality diathesis
and its predicted Domain-congruent stressor
compulsive self-reliance. Aversion to being controlled by /dependant on others
indicators of personal failure e.g. poor exam
self critical personality style and its domain-congruent stressor
hold unreasonably high standards for self, and prone to punishing self evaluations.
negative life events that they feel responsible for . e.g. accidents or mistakes
pessimistic explanatory style
and domain congruent stressor
explain negative life events according to stable and global causes. Feel unable to avoid negative events.
stressor = negative life events that could be attributed to stable/global
high dependancy personality
‘anxious attachment’.
Exaggerated need for others’ guidance, nurturance and approval. Fear separation and abandonment
stressor: Events related to interpersonal conflict, loss, rejection, separation.
e.g. break up.
specific vulnerability hypothesis
when the stressor is congruent with the diatheses, this will lead to an increased risk of depression compared to when the risk is inongruent
Abela et al., (2012). found a mixed result of the specific vulnerability hypothesis and suggested 3 reasons why
- Little focus on other risk and protective factors (e.g. self-esteem).
- Too much focus on individual stress level relative to group.
- Researcher cannot classify stressful events for each individual. (differences in interpretation, plus ‘spill over’ effects.)
to adress these 3 factors, Abela et al…
procedure
what were they analysing
studied 140 children with at least one parent with depression (or history of).
- controlled for self esteem
- conducted phone call interview every 6 weeks for 1 year. (to compare a personal change in stress)
Analyses:
- Ability of Dependency and Self-Crit to predict depression.
- Effect of increased amount of total stress (not congruence).
- Role of self-esteem as a protective factor.
Abela et al results
- No evidence that self-criticism acts as a diathesis.
- Diathesis-stress effects apparent for Dependency.
- Dependency acts as a diathesis, but is buffered by protective effects of self-esteem.
what did Kwapil find about the schizotypes in a 10 year follow up of uni students
both positive and negative led to an increased risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorders
positive schizotypy led to increase risk in mood disorder and substance abuse
negative schizotypy led to schizoid traits and lower relationship closeness
Schizotypy model by Meehl (1962,1990)
there are schizo gnenes which can lead to CNS abnormalitites (schizotaxia) which can lead to Scchizotypy ( personality diathesis)
If exposed to stressors and or potentiators, then can lead to schizophrenia, schizotypic disorders, endophenotypes
potential specific vulnerabilities to stressors in schizotypy types
positive type is sensitive to chaotic environments
Negative type is sensitive to birth complications
schizotypy and creativity
comedians
evidence
compared actors to comedians (comedians predicted to have higher schizotypy due to their bimodal thinking).
completed online schizotypy scales
Found
comedians and actors had higher schizotypy than general population.
comedians signif higher than actors.
suggests a high level of schiztypy makes good cmedy writing
