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PSYCH 239- Abnormal Psychology > Personality > Flashcards

Personality Flashcards

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1
Q

Personality

A

A set of uniquely expressed characteristics that influence our behaviors, emotions, thoughts, and interactions

Aka “character”

Ex. People who are outgoing/sociable in one situation tend to be outgoing/sociable in other situations.

These tendencies lead people to think and act in somewhat predictable ways.

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2
Q

Personality traits

A

Our particular characteristics

Lead us to react in fairly predictable ways as we move through in life.

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3
Q

Personality is _________, not _________

A

Flexible; deterministic

  • people don’t react the same way in every instance/circumstance
  • people are capable of learning from experience and altering their thinking/behavior
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4
Q

When personality becomes too rigid and extreme, it becomes a ______________

A

Personality disorder

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5
Q

Personality disorder

A

An enduring, rigid pattern of inner experience and outward behavior that repeatedly impairs a person’s sense of self, emotional experiences, goals, capacity for empathy, and/or capacity for intimacy.

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6
Q

Paranoid personality disorder

A

A personality disorder marked by a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness of others.

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7
Q

The “Narrative Spectrum”

A
  • idea proposed by the sociologist and sci0fi author Malka Older
  • different people can be characterized by their tendency towards narrative perception: the tendency to perceive narrative structures or tropes as operating in real life.
  • when we become attuned to patterns of narrative and characterization in fiction, we might start to expect them in our real lives as well.
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8
Q

Stability of Personality disorders

A
  • personality disorders were once thought to be extremely stable and resistant to change.
  • more recent evidence suggests this may not be the case (Morey & Hopwood, 2013)
    -some patients do experience episodes of their disorder, and symptoms generally improve over time, sometimes with relapses.
    -not distinctly different in this respect from other psychopathologies
  • disorders are actually less stable than traits (Hopwood et al., 2012)
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9
Q

Two different measures of personality

A
  1. Personality as categorical -each person has a particular “type” of personality, which consists of a specific/consistent cluster of traits
  2. Personality as dimensional -personality traits are independent of each other and vary along a spectrum; a person can land at any point along the spectrum.
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10
Q

Categorical Personality

A
  • The DSM-V classifies personality disorders categorically; you either have the disorder and belong in the category or you don’t.
  • to have the disorder, your personality must consist of several specific and exaggerated traits.
  • convenient for treatment: the clinician can make a categorical decision about whether a client requires treatment, or not, and which treatment is appropriate.
  • many popular conceptualization of personality are categorical; ex: Type A vs Type B
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11
Q

Clusters of Personality disorders

A
  1. Cluster A (“Odd-Eccentric”)
    - paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal
  2. Cluster B (“Dramatic-Erratic”)
    - antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic
  3. Cluster C (“Anxious-Fearful”)
    - avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive
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12
Q

Personality disorder prevalence

A
  • average estimated prevalence across studies is ~7.8% of the population.
  • higher prevalence in high-income countries, which they suggest may be due to socioeconomic and cultural factors
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13
Q

Personality disorder costs

A

Personality disorders carry significant costs for individuals and society

  • impaired role status: less likely to be employed, married, etc.
  • impaired functioning within those roles
  • some are associated with criminality, violence, substance abuse and other social issues
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14
Q

Cluster A

A
  • paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal
  • people with Cluster A disorders show symptoms similar to schizophrenia, but milder
  • general tendency towards paranoia, social withdrawal, and maladaptive or peculiar thinking.
  • more common in people with a familial history of schizophrenia or affective/mood disorders
  • Kendler et al. (2007) provide heritability estimates of 55-72%
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15
Q

Schizoid personality disorder

A
  • more common disorder in Cluster A
  • defined by an avoidance of relationships and a lack of emotional expression
  • avoidance of relationships is not due to paranoia or anxiety, but rather a sincere preference for being alone
  • often described as “loners” or “hermits”; they take no effort to form relationships, and often choose schools/jobs which allow them to work alone and stay at home most of the time
  • emotionally, they are perceived by others as flat, cold, humorless, disinterested, etc.
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16
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for schizoid personality disorder

A

Poor relationships in early life leave people unable to give or receive affection

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17
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation for schizoid personality disorder

A

Due to deficient thinking and perception; people have difficulty thinking deeply and finding meaning in things, and have difficulty perceiving and responding to emotion in others.

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18
Q

Treatment for schizoid personality disorder

A

CBT/psychotherapy (emotional recall, social skills training, and group therapy)

people with the disorder are typically reluctant to enter therapy and dislike following these techniques.

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19
Q

There is very little empirical data on this disorder

A

Schizoid personality disorder

  • others argue that people with this disorder aren’t actually impaired or distresses, and their experiences can be understood via other theories, ex. attachment theory
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20
Q

Paranoid personality disorder

A

Marked by a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness of others

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21
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for paranoid personality disorder

A
  • psychodynamic theories trace the pattern to early interactions with demanding parents, particularly distant, rigid fathers and overcontrolling, rejecting mothers.
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22
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation for paranoid personality disorder

A
  • people with paranoid personality disorder generally hold broad maladaptive assumptions, such as “people are evil” and “people will attack you if given the chance”
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23
Q

Treatment for paranoid personality disorder

A
  • Object relations therapists try to see past the patient’s anger and work on what they view as the individual’s deep wish for a satisfying relationship
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Antipsychotic drug therapy seems to be of limited help
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24
Q

Schizotypal personality disorder

A

Characterized by extreme discomfort in close relationships, very odd patterns of thinking and perceiving, and behavioral eccentricities.

More severe than the paranoid and schizoid personality disorders

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25
Q

Explanations for schizotypal personality disorder

A
  • defects in attention and short-term memory may contribute to schizotypal personality disorder, just as they apparently do to schizophrenia
  • high activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine
26
Q

Treatments for schizotypal personality disorder

A
  • Most therapists agree on the need to help these clients “reconnect” with the world and recognize the limits of their thinking and their powers.
  • Increase positive social contacts, ease loneliness, reduce overstimulation, and help the individuals become more aware of their personal feelings.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapists further try to teach clients to evaluate their unusual thoughts or perceptions objectively and to ignore the inappropriate ones
  • Antipsychotic drugs in low doses appear to have helped some people, usually by reducing their thought problems.
27
Q

Cluster B

A
  • antisocial, borderline, histrionic
  • people with Cluster B personality disorders exhibit dramatic, emotional, and chaotic behavior which disrupts their relationships with others.
28
Q

Antisocial personality disorder

A
  • most common disorder for Cluster B
  • defined by a lack of empathy, and repeated violation/disregard for the rights of others.
  • common behaviors include lying, recklessness, lack of commitment (ex. frequently quitting jobs), impulsivity, and verbal/physical aggression
  • frequently comorbid with substance use and other addictions, ex. gambling
  • closely linked to criminal behavior; 40-60% of male prisoners in Canada, the US, and UK qualify fir a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder
29
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for antisocial personality disorder

A

Socioeconomic stressors and/or poor relationships in early life lead to a lack of trust in others.

30
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation for antisocial personality disorder

A

Modelling, operant conditioning, conscious attitudes which devalue the needs and feelings of others.

31
Q

Biological explanation for antisocial personality disorder

A

Impaired executive functioning (prefrontal/orbitofrontal cortex); smaller amygdala and hippocampus -> impaired emotional processing and under-arousal in response to anxious or fearful stimuli.

32
Q

Treatment for antisocial personality disorder

A

NO generally reliable treatment is available

33
Q

Borderline personality disorder

A

A personality disorder characterized by repeated instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood and by impulsive behavior.

Similar disorder: depressive disorder, bipolar disorder

34
Q

Psychodynamic explanation of borderline personality disorder

A

Object relations theorists propose that an early lack of acceptance by parents may lead to a loss of self-esteem, increased dependence, and an inability to cope with separation.

35
Q

Biological explanation for borderline personality disorder

A
  • Researchers have found that people with borderline personality disorder, particularly those who are most impulsive-individuals who attempt suicide or are very aggressive toward others-have lower brain serotonin activity.
  • Has also been tied to abnormal activity in certain brain structures, including the amygdala (hyperactive), hippocampus (underactive), prefrontal cortex (underactive), and other structures in the frontal lobes
36
Q

Sociocultural explanation for borderline personality disorder

A
  • Cases of borderline personality disorder are particularly likely to emerge in cultures that change rapidly.
37
Q

Mentalization

A

the capacity to understand one’s own mental states and those of other people -that is, to recognize needs, desires, feelings, beliefs, and goals.

Developmental psychopathology theorists have also come to believe that a central psychological deficit in borderline personality disorder is the person’s ability to mentalize.

38
Q

Treatments for borderline personality disorder

A
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
    a comprehensive treatment approach, applied in cases of borderline personality disorder, suicidal intent, and/or other psychological problems; includes both individual therapy sessions and group sessions.
  • Antidepressant, mood-stabilizing, anxiety and antipsychotic drugs have helped calm the emotional and aggressive storms of some people with BPD
39
Q

Histrionic personality disorder

A
  • once called hysterical personality disorder
  • characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking.
40
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for histrionic personality disorder

A
  • most psychodynamic theorists believe that as children, people with this disorder had cold and controlling parents who left them feeling unloved and afraid of abandonment.
41
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation of histrionic personality disorder

A
  • cognitive-behavioral theorists see these individuals as becoming less and less interested in knowing about the world at large because they are so self-focused and emotional.
42
Q

Sociocultural explanation of histrionic personality disorder

A
  • sociocultural, particularly multicultural, theorists believe that histrionic personality disorder is produced in part by cultural norms and expectations
43
Q

Treatment for histrionic personality disorder

A

Psychodynamic therapy and various group therapy -therapists ultimately aim to help the clients recognize their excessive dependency, find inner satisfaction, cope better, and become more self-reliant.

44
Q

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A
  • marked by a broad pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy
  • more common in men (75%)
45
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for narcissistic personality disorder

A

The problem begins with cold, rejecting parents

Children who are neglected and/or abused or who lose parents through adoption, divorce, or death are at particular risk for the later development of narcissistic personality disorder.

46
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation for narcissistic personality disorder

A

Narcissistic personality disorder may develop when people are treated too positively rather than too negatively in early life.

47
Q

Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder

A
  • narcissistic personality disorder is one of the most difficult personality patterns to trat because the clients are unable to acknowledge weaknesses, to appreciate the effect of their behavior on others, or to incorporate feedback from others.
48
Q

Cluster C

A
  • avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders
  • people with cluster C disorders typically display anxious and fearful behavior. This typically leads to behavioral and a refusal to take on responsibilities.
  • patients with an anxiety disorder are more likely to have a co-morbid Cluster C personality disorder
49
Q

Avoidant personality disorder

A
  • characterized by consistent discomfort and restraint in social situations, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation.
  • similar to social anxiety disorder (fear of humiliation and low confidence)
50
Q

Key difference between social anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder

A
  • People with social anxiety disorder primarily fear social circumstances
  • People with social anxiety disorder tend to fear close social relationships.
51
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for avoidant personality disorder

A

Psychodynamic theorists focus mainly on the general feelings of shame and insecurity that people with avoidant personality disorder have.
Some trace the shame to childhood experiences such as early bowel and bladder accidents.
If parents repeatedly punish or ridicule a child for having such accidents, the child may develop a negative self-image.

52
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation for avoidant personality disorder

A

Harsh criticism and rejection in early childhood may lead certain people to assume that others in their environment will always judge them negatively.

53
Q

Treatment for avoidant personality disorder

A
  • psychodynamic therapists try to help clients recognize and resolve the unconscious conflicts that may be operating.
  • cognitive-behavioral therapists help the individuals change their distressing beliefs and thoughts, carry on in the face of painful emotions, and improve their self-image.
  • group therapy formats especially groups that follow cognitive and behavioral principles, have the added advantage of providing clients with practice in social interactions.
  • Antianxiety and antidepressant drugs are sometimes useful in reducing the social anxiety of people with the disorder.
54
Q

Dependent personality disorder

A
  • characterized by a pattern of clinging and obedience, fear of separation, and an ongoing need to be taken care of.
  • they are at risk for depressive, anxiety, and eating disorders.
  • their fear of separation and their feelings of helplessness may leave them particularly prone to suicidal thoughts, especially when they believe that a relationship is about to end.
  • this disorder is common in men
55
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for dependent personality disorder

A
  • Freudian theorists argue, for example, that unresolved need for nurturance, thus heightening the likelihood of a dependent personality disorder.
  • Object relations theorists say that early parental loss or rejection may prevent normal experiences of attachment and separation, leaving some children with fears of abandonment that persist throughout their lives.
  • other psychodynamic theorists suggest that many parents of people with this disorder were overcontrolling and overprotective, thus increasing their children’s dependency, insecurity, and separation anxiety.
56
Q

Cognitive-behavioral explanation for dependent personality disorder

A
  • in the behavioral realm, they propose that parents of people with dependent personality disorder unintentionally rewarded their children’s clinging and “loyal” behavior, while at the same time punishing acts of independence, perhaps through the withdrawal of love. Alternatively, some parents’ own dependent behaviors may have started as models for their children.
  • In the cognitive realm, the theorists identify maladaptive attitudes as further helping to produce and maintain this disorder, such as “I am inadequate and helpless to deal with the world” and “I must find a person to provide protection so I can cope.
57
Q

Treatments for dependent personality disorder

A
  • Psychodynamic therapy for this pattern focuses on many of the same issues as therapy for depressed people, including the transference of dependency needs onto the therapist.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapists combine behavioral and cognitive interventions to help the clients take control of their lives.
  • Antidepressant drug therapy has been helpful for people whose personality disorder is accompanied by depression.
58
Q

Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder

A
  • a preoccupation, with perfection, order, and control, which inhibits flexibility, openness, and efficiency.
  • tendency to complete tasks slowly or not at all, because they focus on details at the expense of the activity’s intended purpose and outcome.
  • inability to be satisfied with one’s own work, paired with an inability to trust the work to anyone else
  • also tend to be behaviorally inhibited (shallow relationships, reluctance to make decisions, stinginess with money)
  • often co-morbid with depression, anxiety, and/or substance use, but distinct from OCD
59
Q

Psychodynamic explanation for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

A

conflict with parental figures in early childhood produces anger, which leads to excessive control and inhibition to repress that anger.

60
Q

cognitive-behavioral explanation for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

A

patients express maladaptive thinking, such as catastrophizing; in their mind, they exaggerate the consequences of any mistakes or errors.

61
Q

Treatment for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

A
  • Psychoanalysis and CBT to help patients recognize their insecurities, accept limitations, challenge thought patterns, etc.
  • some evidence of effectiveness of SSRI’s.
62
Q

Personality disorder-trait specified (PDTS)

A

a personality disorder undergoing study for possible inclusion in the DSM. People would receive this diagnosis if they had significant impairment in functioning as a result of one or more very problematic traits.

PSYCH 239- Abnormal Psychology (5 decks)

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