Lecture 5 - Wellbeing and personality Flashcards
In terms of health, what can personality influence?
- vulnerability to physical/ psychological illnesses
- How we experience such illnesses
- likelihood we seek support
- recovery and outcome
What are the 4 models of links between personality and health
- Direct link
- correlational link
- Behavioural link
- Illness impacts personality
Outline the direct link between personality and health
Personality has a CAUSAL role in health and illness
- people can be ‘disease prone’ - get psychosomatic conditions like Stomach Ulcers, CHD
- PERSONALITY -> BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES -> ILLNESS
Outline the correlational link between personality and health
- Biological activities influence personality and they also influence illness
- e.g. matthews (2003) - genetic relationship between vulnerability to CHD and hostility
Outline the behavioural link between personality and health
Personality traits infulence our behaviours
- our behaviours subsequently influence our risk for certain illness
- E.g. if you are a sensation seeker, you are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour
Outline how having an illness may result in changes in our personality
- stuff like alzheimers, chronic conditions, illness in childhood
- can make us depressed/ anxious
- lead to psychosocial adjustment and sociability
What has research shown about the link between the Big 5 and health?
- shown there are relationships between the two
- evidence that lower levels of conscientiousness linked to lower treatment adherence
What were Smith (2006)’s 4 main features that influence how we cope with an illness
- Role of anger and hostility (influences treatment adherence)
- Social Dominance - how much control they have over situation. Can support them if they feel in control - do things to help achieve this
- Neuroticism and negative affect
- Optimism
What has research found about the relationship between Neuroticism and health
- reduces life expectancy
- increased chances of serious physical disease
- damages physical health over time
Define somatic symptom disorders
Physical complaints with no identifiable medical cause
- chronic pain, hypochondriases, body dysmorphia
What link has neuroticism been made to somatic symptoms?
A link has been made between neuroticism and the experience of somatic symptoms
How does optimism interact with health?
optimists are less susceptible to depression and anxiety - they tend to live longer
- if an optimist is feeling depressed/ anxious, they will go to lengths to find out why
- more likely to help themselves/ seek therapy
What were scheier & Carver (1987) findings about optimist
Optimists report fewer physical symptoms, recover better from major surgery and report few complications
What are the issues with regards to personality and health research?
X - cause and effect, it could be psychological reaction to diseases instead
X - self-rated symptoms - vary, some people will rate the same symptoms differently. What earns you sick leave in one job is different in another job
X - studies show correlations but dont explain why
What did Williams et al (2011) look at in terms of Type D personality?
Explored Type D personality (distressed) and illness beliefs and behaviours
- perceive themselves as being more ill than those who werent type D
- evidence of how personality can influence ILLNESS BEHAVIOURS
Outline The role of stress in influencing personality behaviours
Ability to cope with stress is an important mechanism here
- it is a response to perceived demands (not to the situation)
- resilient individual will have a more positive outcome from illlness
- vulnerable individual will have a more negative outcome, but can be made to be positive
What are the 3 diathesis-stress models?
- Health behaviour models
- interactional stress models
- Transactional stress models (exposure)
Outline Smiths (2006) health behaviour model as a model of the influence of stress on illness
Personality causes:
• health behaviours
• appraisal of stressful situation
• coping strategies
- negative affect could lead to negative appraisal, and negative coping strategies (like drugs)
Outline the interactional stress model
Personality moderates our physiological responses to stressful circumstances
- not saying that personality links to appraisal, coping etc
- just saying it can moderate them and influence them
- Personality, coping and appraisal all interact to cause the physiological response, which then influences illness
Outline the transcational stress model
again not saying personality causes anything
- just says personality can influence exposure to stressful circumstances
- e.g. an extrovert is more sociable and outgoing, this means they expose themselves more often to stressful situations, like public speaking
- introverts avoid this (coping mechanisms)
on other hand:
- introverts may get really anxious and nervous and run away - may influence illness
- wheras an extrovert may enjoy it
Who came up with LOC
Rotter (1966)
What are the links between LOC and psychological and physical disorders?
- Depression and suicide
* therapy and quality of life in illness
Define self-efficacy
Degree of confidence in our ability to perform a particular task. n order to achieve a positive outcome
- related to motivation and persistence in recovery
- important mediator between stressful life events and depressive symptoms
Define personality disorders
enduring, maladaptive patterns of behaviours and cognitions, that deviate markedly from what is expected and accepted
- effects interpersonal relationships as well
- inflexible, stable, not a result of another psycholgical disorder/ substance
What are the prevalence rates of personality disorders
Total prevalence = 6%
Cluster A: 3.6%
Cluster B: 1.5%
Cluster C: 2.7%
Often co-occur
Cluster A most common, Cluster B least
Summarise the clusters please
A: odd, eccentric
B: Dramatic, emotional or erratic
C: anxious, fearful
What are the characteristics of the healthy self
- unique identity
- meaningful goals, application of social norms and how to interact with others (self-direction)
- positive IPR - empathy
How did Saulsman & Page (2004) say the big 5 linked to PD’s?
Neuroticisms and agreeableness
- linked to all of them
Extraversion - linked to histrionic/ avoidant PD
Summarise Cluster A
Odd or eccentric personality disorders
- Paranoid PD
- Schizoid PD
- Schizotypal PD
Outline Schizotypal PD (Cluster A)
- Discomfort with and reduced tendency for close relationships
- Few if any friends
- dont like interaction of any kind -even sitting in lectures
- Odd beliefs or magical thinking (e.g. telepathy)
- unusual perceptual experiences - seeing things
- odd thinking or speech, peculier dress or mannerisms
- ides of reference - make ordinary ideas a little bit odd or wild
- General social anxiety (key symtpom) - worried people are out there to get them
- NOT Sz but on the same spectrum as it
What evidence is there to connect Schizotypal PD to Sz?
- if a 1st degree relative has Sz youre more likely to have a Cluster A PD
- questions if its just preliminary phase of Sz?
- similar structural brain abnormalities
Outline Cluster B PD’s
Dramatic, emotinoal or erratic PD’s
- Antisocial PD
- BPD
- Histrionic PD
- Narcissistic PD
Define BPD
- intense and unstable relationships
- fear abandonment - unstable relationships as they fear they are going to walk away
- feelings of emptiness/ worthlessness - believe they dont matter so can be reckless
- impulsive - money, drugs, sex
- paranoia/ delusions
- mood instability
- self-harm
- anxious
- cope badly with stress
What are some of the causes of BPD?
- Abuse - think its their fault
- Insecure attachment
- Impulsive traits
- reduced volume in emotional and decision making areas
- emotional dysregulation in parents can be pased onto you via genetics
- multiple factors combine to create symptoms of BPD
Outline Cluster C PD’s
Anxious/ fearful disorders
- Obsessive compulsive PD
- Avoidant PD
- Dependent PD
Outline Obsessive compulsive PD’s
- overly concerned with details, organisation, rules or order
- levels of perfectionism interfere with completion of tasks
- devoted to work - friendships/ leisure activities suffer
- inflexible and over-conscientious about issues of morals/ ethics etc
- Difficulty working with others - dont like delegating tasks - or may avoid group work all together
- rigid, stubborn
What are the 3 causes of personality disorders?
- Genetics/ heritability
- Developmental/ childhood
- Biological influences (neuropsychology)
Outline Torgensen et al (2000)’s Twin study into PD’s
- 1300 pairs of Norweigan Twins
- one twin had a PD, the other hadn’t
- found Identical twins were more likely to both have a PD
- if parents had one, more than 40% chance that one of the twins had one.
Cluster A: 37% heritability
Cluster B: 60%
Cluster C: 62%
All of them: 60%
BPD was about 40%
Avoidance PD was 35%
Outline childhood factors that influence PD’s
- Antiscocial PD, BPD, Schizotypal PD have been linked to parenting behaviours: • less affection • lack of nurturing and neglect • abuse • negative childhood experiences
Who came up with Dialectical behaviour therapy as a treatment for BPD
- teaches being in the moment, and problem solcing
- stage 1: talk to therapist about how to change their actions based on past experiences
- Stage 2: whats caused this
- Stage 3: used what you’ve learned and put it into practice, developing sense of self
What are the issues with treatments for PD’s?
X - every case is different
X - difficulty maintaining relationship with therapist
X - Rarely turn up.
