Personality Psychology Chapter 19*

Def: maladaptive variations or combinations of normal personality traits

personality disorders

What are the symptoms of personality disorders?

traits, emotions, cognitions, motives, self-concept

Def: patterns of thinking and/or behaving that are maladaptive, disruptive, or uncomfortable for the person affected or those around him/her which lead to disability or impairment in important life domains

psychological disorders

Def: study of psychological disorders, including thought disorders, emotional disorders, and personality disorders

abnormal psychology/psychopathology

Def: can be defined statistically, socially, and psychologically

"abnormal"

Def: must take into account age, gender, and culture

context is critical

Def: patterns of cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, and impulse control that deviate markedly form cultural expectations

enduring

Def: across social and personal contexts

inflexible and pervasive

Where are personality disorders traceable to?

childhood or adolescence

What must personality disorder not be attributable to?

to drug abuse, medication, or other medical/psychological condition

What is the Categorical view (DSM)?

-Have a disorder or you don't

-Disorders are viewed as distinct and qualitatively different from normal extremes on some trait

What is the Dimensional view?

-Personality disorder is on a continuum: normality--> severe disability/disturbance

-distinctions between personality traits and disorders are: extremity, rigidity, maladaptiveness

Def:

continuum

Def: Clinical and personality disorders can co-occur in the same individual. 50% of people with 1 PD have multiple PD's

comorbidity

When do PD's start and how often are they treated?

early, they are chronic, and often untreated

Def: ways of being unpredictable, violent, or emotional

The Erratic Cluster

Def: chronic pattern of self-centered, manipulative, and destructive behavior toward others

antisocial personality disorder

What are some of the symptoms of an antisocial personal disorder person?

-irritable and aggressive

-lack of concern for social norms

-reckless and irresponsible

-deceitfulness

-impulsivity

-indifferent to suffering of others

-lack of remorse or guilt

-evidence of Conduct Disorder as a child/adolescent

Difference between Antisocial personality disorder vs. psychopathy?

not something that is in the DSM, study, not clinical diagnosis, egocentric

Def: use superficial charm and egocentricity, not included in the DSM-5, could be mistaken for antisocial personality disorder, (incorrectly) used interchangeably with antisocial personality disorder

psychopathy

Def: Chronic pattern of instability in relationships, emotions, self-image, and control over impulses

borderline personality disorder

What are the symptoms of Borderline personality disorder?

-unstable and intense interpersonal relationships (fear of abandonment)

-unstable self-concept/identity

-impulsivity

-aggressive, anger control problems, self-harm or suicidal behavior

Def: chronic patter of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking

histrionic personality disorder

What are the symptoms of histrionic personality disorder?

-strong need for attention

-attention-seeking behaviors

-excessive, intense emotions

-sexually-provocative

-suggestible (unstable, shallow opinions

What has the Warner study (1978) found out about histrionic personality disorder?

-Provided clinicians with ambiguous descriptions of hypothetical patients

(histrionic and antisocial problems)

-females: 76% HPD, 22% APD

-males: 49% HPD, 41% APD

Def: chronic pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy

narcissistic personality disorder

What are some of the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?

-Exaggerated sense of self-importance and entitlement

-Lack of insight into other people's feelings or needs

-Feelings of superiority

-Need to be admired

-Envious of others

-Self-esteem appears strong, but is fragile

Def: ways of being different

The eccentric cluster

Def: Chronic pattern of social isolation (by choice) and detachment

schizoid personality disorder

What are the symptoms of Schizoid personality disorder?

-detachment from normal social relationships

-obtain little pleasure out of life

-appear inept or socially clumsy

-passive in the face of unpleasant events

Def: Chronic pattern of disturbed thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors

schizotypal personality disorder

What are the symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder?

-anxious in social relations and avoid people

-appear and feel "different" and do not conform

-suspicious of others (ideas of reference)

-odd or eccentric beliefs, such as in telepathy or magic

-thoughts and speech sometimes disorganized

Def: chronic pattern of distrust and suspiciousness of others

paranoid personality disorder

What are some of the symptoms of paranoid personality disorder?

-distrust of others

-misinterpret social events as threatening

-harbor resentment towards others

-prone to pathological jealousy

-argumentative and hostile

Def: ways of being nervous, fearful, or distressed

The anxious cluster

Def: Chronic pattern of social inhibition and extreme sensitivity to criticism and rejection

avoidant personality disorder

What are some of the symptoms of avoidant personality disorder?

-feelings of inadequacy

-sensitive to criticism

-low self-esteem

-restrict activities to avoid embarrassments

Def: Chronic need to be taken care of, which leads to clinging behavior and fears of separation

dependent personality disorder

What are some of the symptoms of the dependent personality disorder?

-Excessive need to be taken care of

-seek reassurance from others

-rarely takes initiative, rarely disagrees with others

-does not work well independently

-may tolerate abuse from others to obtain support (submissive)

Def: chronic pattern of preoccupation with order, perfection, and control

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

What are some of the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

-strives for perfection (high standards!)

-devoted to work, seeks little leisure time or friendship (BUT not efficient/productive)

-frequently miserly or stingy

-rigid, inflexible, and stubborn

total number of cases present in given population during a particular period of time

prevalence

What are the most and least common personality disorders?

Obsessive compulsive 4%

narcissistic 0.2%

Differential diagnosis

Out of two or more possible diagnoses, the clinician searches for evidence in support of one category over all others

Neurotic paradox

Although a particular behavior might make them feel less anxious, it may create another equally or more severe problem

Narcissistic paradox

Although the narcissist appears high in self-esteem, their esteem is actually quite fragile