Week 12 - Personality Flashcards
What is personality?
Aka “character”
Traits/tendencies that’s influence our thoughts, feelings and behaviour
Is flexible, NOT deterministic..
Different instances/circumstances
What does it become a “personality disorder”?
When personality becomes to rigid and extreme
What are the two meanings of “character”?
(In terms of fictional characters)
1) Often have exaggerated/rigid character
2) Often deterministic
***WE NOTICE WHEN CHARACTERS ACT “OUT OF CHARACTER”
***SOMETIMES WRITERS MAKE USE OF THIS
What is the “narrative spectrum”?
Who was its proposed by?
Sociologist/Sci-fi author Malka Older
When we become attuned to PATTERNS of narrative and characterization in FICTION, we might start to EXPECT them or read them into our REAL lives as well
What is the reality about “fictional characters” and how they relate to us?
That we are NOT fictional characters!
We are not “characters” at all, EXCEPT when people expect certain things about ourselves
ONLY when a character becomes too RIGID that it’s may become a problem for ourselves or others
True or false. Personality disorders were thought to be extremely stable and resistant to change. However, recent evidence shows this may not be the case.
TRUE
Disorders are actually LESS STABLE than traits
Symptoms generally IMPROVE over time
What are the 2 main ways to measure personality?
1) Categorical:
Each person has a particular “type” of personality, specific cluster of traits
2) Dimensional:
Traits are independent of one another, vary among a spectrum
How does the DSM-V view the categorical personality classification?
It classifies personality whether you have the disorder (and belong in the category), OR you don’t
Convenient for treatment
Popular conceptualization, example type A or B
How does the DSM cluster the 10 personality disorders into 3 types?
1) CLUSTER A:
- “odd-eccentric”, paranoid
2) CLUSTER B:
- “dramatic-erratic”, antisocial
3) CLUSTER C:
- “anxious-fearful”, obsessive compulsive
Personality disorders are approximately __.__% of the population
7.8%
True or false. Personality disorders have a higher prevalence in high-income countries
If true, why?
True
May be due to SOCIOECONOMIC/CULTURAL factors
In what ways do personality disorders cost individuals/society?
1) impaired social status (decrease employment/marriage)
2) impaired functioning ^
3) possibly associated with crime, violence, substance abuse etc…
What does cluster A show?
Show symptoms similar to SCHIZOPHRENIA, but MILDER
Tendency towards paranoia & social withdrawal
Common in people with family historic of schizophrenia/mood disorders
What is the most common disorder in type A?
Schizoid personality disorder:
-avoidance of relationships/lack of expression
-preference to be alone
- “loners”
Treatment:
- CBT (emotional recall, social skills training, group therapy)
Low amount of data (might be dropped from manual)
***PEOPLE TYPICALLY VERY RELUCTANT TO ENTER THERAPY
What does cluster B show?
Exhibit dramatic, emotional, and chaotic behaviour = disrupts relationship w/ others
