PSYC 508 Personality Theories Flashcards
ABCPA
A type of behavior analysis assessment; stands for Antecedent, Behavior, Consequences, Person Variables, and Assets. Focuses on using behavioral descriptions rather than trait descriptions.
Antecedent refers to the setting characteristics, or the conditions in which the problem behavior occurs.
Can refer to a physical setting, day/time, or social context.
Can also refer to other behaviors, cognitions (schema, expectancies, rules, knowledge), and emotions (mood/affect, fears, etc).
Behavior refers to the explicit identification and definition of the problem behavior.
Internal frame of reference - you want to hear how the patient/client describes their problem
Consequences refer to what occurs after the behavior.
Person Variables refer to how the person views themselves and the world around them.
Can include expectations, emotions/affect, skills/competencies, goals, evaluation standards, self-labeling and self-talk
Assets refer to things the person does well; can help to resolve the problem behavior.
This type of assessment allows a total view of the person and their problems, which helps in formulating the treatment plan.
EXAMPLE: A 35 year old woman has come to treatment for a problem overeating. The therapist conducts an ABCPA analysis by taking a closer look at the problem bx.The behavior (B) is overeating - considered a behavioral excess. The Antecedents (A) that she reports are feeling stressed or upset frequently at night time. The reinforcing consequences (C) of the behavior is the pleasure that comes from eating and the distraction from the upsetting emotions. However, she is also experiencing the negative consequence of gaining weight. Therapist and client also come up with the list of client assets and person variables that will help in treatment plan.
Attachment Patterns/Styles
Bowlby developed Object Relations theory of attachment. Objects refer to people, and it is how you form relationships with other people. Bowlby suggests the sense of self (child) develops from relationship w/ mother (original object). Ainsworth suggested attachment has 4 distinct patterns; avoidant, secure, ambivalent, and disorganized. Secure attachment is associated with positive emotional health and high self-esteem whereas the other three (considered insecure attachments) are associated with poor cognitive development and poor social relationships.
EXAMPLE: A mother comes into therapy complaining of depression, and she explains to the therapist that she did not feel connected to her baby when she was born as a result of postpartum depression. The mother said it was difficult for her to get out of bed at times when the baby cried. Now the mother no longer suffers from postpartum depression; however, the mother says that every time the now toddler cries, the mom is responsive and attempts to fulfill the baby’s needs. In return, though, the toddler cries and does not make eye contact with the mother. It was apparent to the therapist that the baby formed an insecure avoidant attachment during the mom’s postpartum depression.
Authentic Existence
humanistic concept used in existential theory and thearpy; describe a person who is taking responsibility for their life and for the freedoms they have, and who has an accurate understanding of themselves and the world around them
Helping the client develop an authentic existence is the goal of existential therapy
EXAMPLE: Client in counseling reveals that he became a Lawyer because he comes from a family of lawyers. He discloses that he always felt called to be an artist. The counselor, being of existential orientation, works with the client on taking responsibility for his life and striving for growth. The counselor helps the client come up with ways in which he can lead an authentic existence-maybe join an art club, take the time on the weekends to create something.
Big 5 Personality model/traits
The Big Five personality traits, also known as the five factor model, is a model based on common language descriptors of personality.
These descriptors were grouped together using a statistical technique called factor analysis (i.e. this model is not based on scientific experiments).
This widely examined theory suggests five broad dimensions that describe the human personality and psyche. The five factors have been defined as openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, often listed under the acronym OCEAN.
Beneath each proposed global factor, a number of correlated and more specific primary factors are claimed. For example, extraversion is said to include related qualities as gregariousness, assertiveness, excitement seeking, warmth, activity, and positive emotions.
EXAMPLE: John came into therapy because he was experiencing anxiety over the fact that he was unable to pick a major, or even determine what career path interested him. The counselor gave John the NEO-PI which is based on the big 5 personality model to determine his personality traits and work together to explore different majors and career paths.
Client centered/Person-centered theory/therapy
a humanistic approach developed by Carl Rogers; based on his theory of personality which asserts that humans have a natural tendency towards growth, learning, and change - actualization tendency
Also includes self-theory (self-concept vs ideal self), phenomenology (value of subjective experience) , and conditions of worth (self requires positive regard; if child receives conditional pos regard, creates internal conflict and incongruence b/c person denies aspects of self-concept to meet conditions)
Psychopathology results from a failure to learn from experience and it continues when clients accept projected parental conditions of worth instead of modifying self concept based on day-by-day personal experiences
Non Judgemental atmosphere facilitates psychological health
Therapist offers client UPR, empathy, and genuineness - 3 necessary therapeutic conditions; therapist also role model for congruence between real and ideal self
Therapists are non-directive and should not educate clients; client expert on themself
Facilitate change
Not technique driven
Research supports PCT as effective intervention but not a ton of research; PCT not manualized
Potential weakness: focus on self may not fit all culture’s worldviews; focus on emotional expression might not fit with other cultures; culturally diverse client may prefer expert advice and directive therapies
EXAMPLE: A client came to therapy with anorexia. Her mother had repeatedly told her when she was young that the only way to win a husband was to stay thin and made Kara diet at a very young age. Kara came to think being thin was the only way to be acceptable & she would only be lovable if she was thin. Utilizing a person-centered approach, the therapist conceptualizes Kara’s pathology to be a result of her mother’s conditions of worth that taught her to deny the part of her that enjoys and likes food.
Cognitive avoidance
a term that represents several strategies, such as distraction, worry, and thought suppression, aimed at avoiding or escaping thoughts about undesirable situations or problems.
Similar to avoidance bxs seen in operant conditioning; cognitive avoidance also negatively reinforced because of relief they experience
A type of coping
Must be prevented when carrying out exposure therapy or SD
Contributes to several psychological disorders such as PTSD. Client avoids thinking and talking about trauma and therefore, trauma remains unprocessed.
EXAMPLE: You are working with a client that has PTSD and conducting exposure therapy with their trauma narrative. During exposure, you must make sure that the client is not engaging in cognitive avoidance and distracting him/herself from processing the narrative.
Cognitive dissonance
from Festinger’s research. Occurs when there is a discrepancy between a client’s thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes and bxs or when a person holds two conflicting views simultaneously - causes discomfort for the client. Festinger suggests a person has innate drive to reduce this cognitive dissonance - done through changing beliefs and actions or justifying and denying onset of beliefs or actions. Used in MI in attempt to motivate change to resolve discrepancies.
EXAMPLE: You’re treating a client with a heroin addiction that has discussed wanting to be “healthy” and “mindful.” It is clear that she values those things, but that she experiences cognitive dissonance because she is still using and that’s not healthy. You decide to use MI to attempt to resolve the dissonance and motivate her to change.
Common factors in psychotherapy
a model developed by Jerome Frank; theory the proposes that different approaches in psychotherapy and counseling share common factors that account for much of the effectiveness of a txt and elicit change.
In contrast to the view that the effectiveness of psychotherapy/counseling is best explained by specific or unique factors (notably, particular methods or procedures) that are suited to treat particular problems.
Factors include but not limited to: therapeutic alliance, positive expectations or hope, and extratherapeutic client resources - all therapies allow for corrective emotional experience
Frank’s model shared therapeutic components:
An emotionally charged, confiding relationship; a healing setting; a rationale, conceptual scheme, or myth; and a ritual
EXAMPLE: You’re treating a client with PTSD and you’re trying to decide between two treatments so you turn to the research. You find that both txs you are considering produce similar results. You conclude that this may be due to common factors in psychotherapy and you decide to think more about the client as a person and what therapy she might prefer.
Conditional vs Unconditional positive regard
terms developed by Carl Rogers and used in Rogerian therapy, positive regard is the perception of love and respect from others. The need for this positive regard develops as the self emerges.
Positive regard can be conditional or unconditional.
In unconditional positive regard, the positive regard is when others accept and love the person for who they are, regardless of mistakes or if something is wrong. The positive regard is never taken away from the person if it is unconditional, and tend to allow people to self actualize.
UPR core necessary condition for therapeutic relationship
In conditional positive regard, love and acceptance are only given when the person is or behaves a certain way and meet certain conditions in order to obtain positive regard. If conditions are not met, then no positive regard is given.
If given conditional PR, person acquires conditions of worth and rejects parts of themselves in order to be considered acceptable.
EXAMPLE: A client came to therapy presenting symptoms of anorexia. Her mother had repeatedly told her when she was young that the only way to win a husband was to stay thin and made Kara diet at a very young age. Kara came to think being thin was the only way to be acceptable & she would only be lovable if she followed these guidelines. The therapist explained to Kara that her mother’s conditional positive regard was contingent upon her weight. This contributed to her anorexia.
Conditions of Worth
A term coined from Carl Rogers, this refers to messages sent from society and other people (typically parents) in a client’s life that tell them they are only lovable or acceptable when they conform to certain guidelines. When conditions of worth are placed on a person, they will deny parts of their self-concept in order to meet these conditions. This can have a negative influence on the client, as these conditions tend to be incorporated into their idea of self worth at a young age. Conditions of worth cause incongruence between the real & ideal self and ultimately to pathology. Conditions of worth can be helped by the therapist giving unconditional positive regard (warmth) to the client. conditions
EXAMPLE: A client came to therapy presenting symptoms of anorexia. Her mother had repeatedly told her when she was young that the only way to win a husband was to stay thin and made Kara diet at a very young age. Kara came to think being thin was the only way to be acceptable & she would only be lovable if she followed these guidelines. Utilizing a person-centered approach, the therapist explains to Kara that her mother’s conditions of worth contributed to her pathology.
Another example would be if a teenaged client entered therapy for anxiety over getting straight A’s because that’s the only way her parents will pay positive attention towards her, she considers being a straight A student as a condition of worth.
Countertransference
A term developed by Sigmund Freud & related to psychoanalytic theory, this is a process that occurs in therapy when the therapist projects their past feelings or attitudes about something in their own lives onto the client, thereby distorting the way they perceive and react to the client and contributing to bias. It is important for the therapist to be aware of countertransference because it leads to confusing and/or harmful reactions in therapy.
EXAMPLE: A therapist is seeing a client who is depressed following a miscarriage. The therapist herself has also experienced a miscarriage. The therapist found herself expressing much more empathy than she usually did with clients and recognized it as countertransference. While keeping an eye on her reactions, the therapist allowed her personal experience to help her with the client.
Defense mechanisms
A term originally coined in psychoanalytic theory, largely by Anna Freud, this refers to an unconscious process by which a person attempts to preserve the integrity of their self-image and keep their ego from experiencing anxiety. Defense mechanisms can also be used as coping mechanisms to protect against psychological harm/stress. Includes three primal defenses: denial, repression & regression; also includes undoing, projection, reaction formation, rationalization, sublimation & displacement. Freudian psychology states that normal, healthy individuals do use defense mechanisms, which only become unhealthy when they lead to maladaptive behaviors.
EXAMPLE: Brian presented to treatment because his wife insisted he go to therapy or they would get a divorce. She says that he has anger problems. The therapist discovered that much of Brian’s anger was actually at his boss, but that the defense mechanism of displacement caused him to take out his anger on a safer target, his wife.
Electicism
a therapeutic approach that incorporates a variety of therapeutic principles, philosophies, and techniques. Two types of this integration are technical and theoretical. Technical involves tailoring treatment to the individual utilizing techniques from different schools without necessarily subscribing to the theoretical positions behind them. Theoretical integration aims to synthesize the best aspects of two or more theoretical approaches beyond a blending of techniques to create a richer outcome.
EXAMPLE: The therapist chooses to take a technical eclecticism approach to therapy with her clients. She often incorporates mindfulness techniques from DBT without incorporating all of the modules of DBT or subscribing to the theoretical position of dialectics. In addition, she incorporates cognitive therapeutic techniques such as reframing if a client is struggling with negative thought patterns. This particular therapist tailors therapeutic techniques to each client
Ex: For example, most psychologists accept certain aspects of behaviorism, but do not attempt to use the theory to explain all aspects of human behavior. Using a humanistic approach to therapy in your practice, but use behavioral techniques.
Emotion focused therapy
needs ex
developed by Johnson and Greenberg; a short-term structured therapy originally developed for couples.
Includes elements of attachment theory, systems theory, and client-centered therapy
Goal is to help people accept, express, regulate, make sense of, and transform emotion
Views emotion as driving force in human motivation and action
3 Stages: cycle de-escalation; changing patterns of interaction; and consolidation of change
Used to treat couples, families, depression, and trauma. NOT useful for anxiety typically
EXAMPLE:
Existential Theory/Therapy
a philosophical style of therapy, it focuses on the person as a whole. Like humanists, existentialists in psychology felt that behaviorism and psychoanalysis focused on a narrow aspect of human nature and that a broader view was needed.
Humans are “condemned to freedom” (burden) and must make meaning in their lives
Focus on responsibility, free will, and the present/future (past does not determine future)
Emotions usually serve a function
Emphasizes authentic existence
Psychopathology is related to diminished self-awareness; Goal is to increase self-awareness and help clients face “ultimate concerns” of existence: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness
In general practitioners view technical interventions as artificial or phony; techniques detract from the authentic relationship between therapist and client
EXAMPLE: John was admitted to inpatient therapy at a drug and alcohol rehab center. He had a 2-year-old son and his girlfriend had recently left him. When meeting with the counselor he repeatedly talked about his difficult upbringing and his alcoholic father. John told the counselor that he was destined to be an addict. The counselor used existential therapy to work with John to take responsibility for his actions and live with greater meaning & values.
Factor analysis
a way to take a mass of data and shrinking it to a smaller data set that is more manageable and more understandable. It’s a way to find hidden patterns, show how those patterns overlap and show what characteristics are seen in multiple patterns.
A statistical procedure used to determine whether the variability among observed variables may be explained by fewer unobserved variables called factors
Mathematical procedure for reducing a set of intercorrelations to a small number of descriptive explanatory concepts
EXAMPLE: Factor analysis was done in the research leading up to the Big 5 Personality model. It examined correlations between 1700 different descriptive words typically used to describe personality and narrowed them down to 5 identifiable factors.
Fixation
A term in psychoanalysis and developed by Sigmund Freud, fixation occurs when there is unresolved conflict at one or more Freud’s psychosexual stages of development. Both frustration and overindulgence can cause fixation.
Influences one’s personality and contributes to psychopathology.
For example, if overindulged during oral stage, the individual is more receptive. If frustrated during the oral stage, the individual is more aggressive.
EXAMPLE: Mary came to therapy for excessive binge eating. The therapist utilized a psychodynamic perspective and looked to Mary’s past to see if she progressed normally through Freud’s psychosexual stages, specifically the Oral stage. The therapist theorized that if her needs weren’t met at that stage, she is fixated at this stage, and this would explain the binge eating.
