Week 11 (Applications of personality and individual differences)

Question 1

How are mental disorders categorised

Answer 1

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Question 2

Horizontal expansion (mental disorder categorisation)

Answer 2

Social phobia –> social anxiety disorder

Question 3

Vertical expansion

Answer 3

E.g, social anxiety
-Previous iteration of DSM stated that for individuals under 18, the anxiety needed to be present for at least 6 months
-However, in DSM 5, diagnosis is warranted for ALL ages if anxiety is “persistent, lasting 6 months or more”

Question 4

Concept Creep

Answer 4

Concept gradually widens to include more experiences

Question 5

What factors to psychologists consider before identifying whether a trait/behaviour has reached pathological levels

Answer 5

-Chronicity
-Severity
-Disruption
-Control

Question 6

Cluster A of personality disorders

Answer 6

Thinking / Cognitive disturbances
-paranoid personality disorder
-schizoid personalty disorder
-schizotypal personality disorder

Question 7

Cluster B of personality disorders

Answer 7

Lack of impulse control / inappropriate affect
-antisocial personality disorder
-borderline personality disorder
-histrionic personality disorder
-narcissistic personality disorder

Question 8

Cluster C of personality disorders

Answer 8

Overly dependent / Fearful disorders
-Avoidant personality disorder
-Dependent personality disorder
-Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Question 9

Biopsychosocial model on mental disorders

Answer 9

Biological
-Genes
-Nutrition

Psychological
-Emotions
-Behaviours

Social
-Stress
-Trauma
-Environment