topic 8 - personality in everyday life

Question 1

what is a theory?

Answer 1

a well-substantiated, abstract explanation of a phenomenon arrived at via rational thought

Question 2

what are deal-makers?

Answer 2

traits that generally promote relationship wellbeing and are associated with higher quantity and quality of relationships

Question 3

what are the two traits that particularly undermine relationship success?

Answer 3

untrustworthiness and anger issues

Question 4

what is dispositional contempt?

Answer 4

a tendency to see others as falling short of your standards; chronically judging, sneering, and pushing away people

Question 5

what is rejection sensitivity?

Answer 5

tendency to be overly reactive to any indication that a partner might be losing interest or will soon reject them, leading to anxious or panicked responses

Question 6

what is attachment theory?

Answer 6

characteristic patterns of relating to others that tend to be consistently repeated with different partners throughout life

Question 7

what are personality disorders?

Answer 7

configurations of traits that are socially and/or personally undesirable and extreme

Question 8

what are the risk factors associated with personality disorders?

Answer 8

• young age (typical onset is adolescence to early adulthood)
• male sex
• being unmarried
• lower socioeconomic and eduction levels

Question 9

what are the characteristics of ‘disordered’ personality?

Answer 9

• unusual and extreme personality attributes
• problematic
• negatively affect social relationships and interactions by definition
• largely stable over time
• can be ego-syntonic

Question 10

which personality disorders fall into cluster A: odd or eccentric?

Answer 10

• paranoid
• schizoid
• schizotypal

Question 11

which personality disorders fall into cluster B: dramatic, emotional, erratic?

Answer 11

• antisocial
• borderline
• histrionic
• narcissistic

Question 12

which personality disorders fall into cluster C: anxious or fearful?

Answer 12

• avoidant
• dependent
• obsessive-compulsive

Question 13

paranoid personality disorder

Answer 13

characterized by a pattern of irrational suspicion and mistrust of others, interpreting motivations as malevolent

Question 14

schizoid personality disorder

Answer 14

lack of interest and detachment from social relationships, apathy, and restricted emotional expression

Question 15

schizotypal personality disorder

Answer 15

pattern of extreme discomfort interacting socially, and distorted cognition and perceptions

Question 16

antisocial personality disorder

Answer 16

pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, lack of empathy, bloated self-image, manipulative and impulsive behaviour

Question 17

borderline personality disorder

Answer 17

pervasive pattern of abrupt emotional outbursts, altered empathy, instability in relationships, self-image, identity, behaviour and affect, often leading to self-harm and impulsivity

Question 18

histrionic personality disorder

Answer 18

pervasive pattern of attention-seeking behaviour, excessive emotions, and egocentrism

Question 19

narcissistic personality disorder

Answer 19

pervasive pattern of superior grandiosity, need for admiration, and a perceived or real lack of empathy.
in a more severe expression, may show evidence of paranoia, aggression, psychopathy, and sadistic personality disorder (malignant narcissism)

Question 20

avoidant personality disorder

Answer 20

pervasive feelings of social inhibition and inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation

Question 21

dependent personality disorder

Answer 21

pervasive psychological need to be cared for by other people

Question 22

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Answer 22

characterized by rigid conformity to rules, perfectionism, and control to the point of satisfaction and exclusion of leisurely activities and friendships