Personality and Mental Disorders Flashcards
1
Q
What is a psychological abnormality?
A
- behaviour which isn’t typical
- deviation from average/norm
2
Q
What is the interaction between personality and disorders?
A
- Personality characteristics influence the way people express certain mental disorders
- Extreme expression of personality traits –> mental/personality disorder
- OCD, BPD
3
Q
What are the risk factors for personality disorders?
A
- Genetics
- Childhood trauma –> BPD
- High reactivity –> sensitive child, anxious personality
- Social relationships, marital difficulties, lack of social support
- Exposure to stress
o Correlation between stress levels and mental illness (obvious)
4
Q
What is diathesis?
A
- Tendency to develop a specific disorder intrinsic to the person
- There is a specific vulnerability that will only be triggered if a specific quantity of stress is present
- Some people don’t develop disorders
o Absence of other risk groups (eg. no trauma)
o Presence of protective factors (support network)
5
Q
What are the non personality risk factors of depression?
A
- Gender (women more likely to be diagnosed)
- Family history of depression
- Trauma/ life stress
- Lack of social support
6
Q
What are traits of personality disorders?
A
- Maladaptive variations or combinations of normal personality traits
- Low trust + high hostility = Paranoid Personality Disorder
7
Q
What are motivation disorders?
A
- Maladaptive variations of motives (esp. in relation to power & intimacy)
- Extreme need in superior & receive praise = Narcissistic Personality Disorder
8
Q
What are cognitive personality disorders?
A
- Distorted in routine & consistent misinterpretations of the intentions, impairment of social judgment
- Too negative and judgemental = Paranoid Personality Disorder
9
Q
What are emotional personality disorders?
A
- extreme variation in emotions
- Extreme volatility (predictability) in emotions = Borderline Personality Disorder
10
Q
What are self esteem personality disorders?
A
- Lack of stability in self-concept (no “core”, decision making difficulty, require constant reassurance from others)
- Extreme high SE = Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Extreme low SE à Dependent Personality Disorder
11
Q
What are social relationship personality disorders?
A
- Imbalance sexual intimate relationship
- Poor social skills – stares at people without starting a conversation (Schizoid Personality Disorder), behaves in an inappropriately flirtatious manner (Histrionic Personality Disorder)
12
Q
What is dissociative identity disorder?
A
- Two or more distinct personality traits
- Often results from severe trauma –> brains survival mechanism
