Understanding Personality Psychology and Its Implications

What are two reasons to study psychology?

It's either useful or interesting.

How do relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners impact life experience?

They form the core of life experience.

What does personality psychology help to understand?

It addresses how and why people are different, including traits that affect career success and leadership.

What is the trait approach in personality psychology?

It contributes significantly to understanding relationships and business.

• has demonstrated the consistency of dominance

What are personality disorders?

Patterns or traits considered socially undesirable, often leading to difficulties in social relations.

What is a challenge in identifying personality disorders?

It is hard to determine when a personality trait becomes pathological.

What is the purpose of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)?

To provide a standardized classification of mental disorders.

When was the first edition of the DSM published?

1952

What are the publication years of the DSM editions?

First: 1952, Third: 1980, DSM-III-R: 1987, Fourth: 1994, Fifth: 2013, Current-DSM-V-TR: 2022.

What are the two systems for personality disorders in the DSM?

An old system with a list of disorders and symptoms, and a new system that is more scientifically grounded.

What are the two purposes of the DSM?

1. To make psychological diagnosis more objective. 2. To provide a basis for insurance billing.

What are the general characteristics of personality disorders?

1. Unusual. 2. Tend to cause problems. 3. Affect social relations. 4. Are stable over time. 5. The individual may not recognize it as a disorder.

What are the two essential features of personality disorders?

1. An unusually extreme degree of one or more personality traits. 2. Behavioral patterns that cause major problems for the person or others.

What does 'ego-syntonic' mean in relation to personality disorders?

Refers to thoughts, feelings, beliefs, or behaviors that one accepts as part of oneself and does not want to be cured of, even if others find them difficult to deal with. (Symptoms are seen as normal by the person).

What does 'ego-dystonic' mean?

Refers to troubling thoughts or behaviors that one experiences as alien and wishes to change.

What are the three clusters of personality disorders in the DSM-5?

Cluster A: Odd or eccentric patterns, Cluster B: Impulsive and erratic behaviors, Cluster C: Anxious and avoidant emotional styles.

What disorders are included in Cluster A of the DSM-5?

Schizotypal, schizoid, and paranoid personality disorders.

What disorders are included in Cluster B of the DSM-5?

Histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline personality disorders.

What disorders are included in Cluster C of the DSM-5?

Dependent, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

What is the goal of cognitive behavioral therapy?

To change beliefs.

What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder characterized by?

An extreme pattern of odd beliefs and behaviors, and difficulties relating to others.

What are key features of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)?

Arrogant, exploitative behavior, lack of empathy, and a belief in one's superiority.

How is Narcissistic Personality Disorder perceived in terms of ego-syntonicity?

It is the most ego-syntonic of the personality disorders.

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder known for?

Being difficult or nearly impossible to treat.

What characterizes Antisocial Personality Disorder?

An extreme pattern of deceitful, manipulative, and sometimes dangerous behavior, including illegal activities, impulsive and risky behaviors, irritability, aggression, and irresponsibility.

How do individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder view the damage they cause to others?

They are not bothered by the damage they cause.

What is a common misconception about psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Most psychopaths meet the criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder, but not all individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder are psychopaths.

Which gender is more commonly diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Men.

What is the defining feature of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

An extreme and sometimes dangerous pattern of emotional instability, emotional emptiness, confused identity, and tendencies toward self-harm.

What is 'splitting' in the context of Borderline Personality Disorder?

The tendency to view people as all good or all bad, oversimplifying the complexity of human characteristics.

What is a common risk among individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder?

Suicide attempts.

What treatment is commonly used for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Dialectical behavior therapy.

What is a key characteristic of Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Fear of failure, criticism, or rejection, leading to avoidance of normal activities.

What do individuals with Avoidant Personality Disorder crave?

Affective and social acceptance.

How does Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) differ from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

OCPD involves an extreme pattern of rigidly conscientious behaviors and is not the same as the anxiety disorder of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What are some traits of individuals with OCPD?

They are bound by rituals and rules, severely judgmental of others, and can be stubborn.

What does Aaron Beck suggest about personality disorders?

They are characterized by a fundamentally wrong idea that the person has made the foundation of their worldview.

What is the Bad Five in personality psychology?

1. Negative affectivity, 2. Detachment, 3. Antagonism, 4. Disinhibition, 5. Psychoticism.

What does Negative Affectivity refer to?

A tendency to feel negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and suspicion.

What does Detachment indicate in personality traits?

A tendency to withdraw from and avoid emotional contacts with other people.

What is Antagonism characterized by?

Deceitfulness, grandiosity, callousness, and manipulativeness.

What is Disinhibition?

Characterized by careless and impulsive behavior.

What does Psychoticism refer to in personality traits?

A tendency to have bizarre thoughts or experiences and to exhibit eccentric behavior.

What is the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTop)?

Aims to cover the whole range of psychological distress, not just personality disorders.

What are the five clusters of psychopathology in HiTop?

1. Internalizing disorders, 2. Thought disorders, 3. Externalizing disorders, 4. Detachment from others, 5. Promise because it is more grounded in data.

What is the first step in diagnosing someone with a personality disorder?

To see whether the client's personality functioning is seriously impaired and rate the degree of dysfunction.

What should be assessed to determine the presence of a personality disorder?

At least one of the six defined types of personality disorder.

What are the five maladaptive personality traits that should be assessed?

The degree to which the client is characterized by each of the five maladaptive personality traits.

How is psychological health defined in the notes?

Being open to feelings, experiences, positive emotions, unpretentious, honest, with low levels of depression and anxiety, well-adjusted, optimistic, and self-controlled.

What does the term 'pathological' indicate about mental health?

It tells us almost nothing about the nature of mental health.

What is the aim of positive psychology?

To promote meaning and happy living.

How can a healthy person be defined according to the notes?

In terms of the big five personality traits.

What is necessary for improving mental health?

An understanding of normal personality.

What are some limitations of labels in psychology?

Labels can limit understanding, are not explanations, can imply the person is the source of the problem, but can also be useful and necessary.

Is there a clear dividing line between psychopathology and normal variation?

No, there is no sharp dividing line.

What does having a mild degree of certain characteristics imply?

It does not imply having a disorder.

How are disorders viewed in relation to normal personality traits?

Disorders may be thought of as exaggerated versions of traits that are advantages when in the normal range.

What is the nature of an individual's personality according to the notes?

An individual's personality is a complete package that cannot be separated tidily into good and bad parts.

What are the three types of data used to assess health in relation to personality?

S-data (self-report), I-data (informant data), and L-data (medical records, death certificates).

How does I-data compare to S-data in predicting longevity?

I-data can be more accurate than S-data and is a better predictor of longevity.

Which personality traits in men and women are associated with longer life expectancy?

Men rated as conscientious and open to experience; women rated as emotionally stable and agreeable.

What are the two possible pathways connecting personality traits to health outcomes?

Biological pathways and behavioral pathways.

What characterizes the Type A personality according to Meyer Friedman?

Jittery, overreactive, hypercompetitive, and correlated with cardiovascular risk indicators.

What negative traits are associated with the Type A personality that increase health risks?

Hostility, irritability, impatience, and cynical distrust.

What is negative emotionality and its relation to neuroticism?

The tendency to experience negative feelings and is a major component of neuroticism, associated with poor physical health.

How does negative emotionality affect health behaviors?

It can lead to dependent stress life events, which are more common in neurotic individuals and can cause new health problems.

What role does optimism play in health behaviors?

A certain amount of optimism can encourage healthy behaviors.

What is the relationship between conscientiousness and health?

Conscientiousness is positively related to quality and length of life, better stress management, and health-promoting behaviors.

How does conscientiousness affect employment and health?

Low conscientiousness is linked to low persistence and poor self-control, while continued employment into old age is beneficial for health.

What environmental influences can affect health?

Spouse or long-term partner satisfaction can predict longevity; social context and stress levels also impact health.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic highlight personality's interaction with social context?

It illuminated ways in which personality traits can exacerbate vulnerability to health issues.

What are some psychological prescriptions for improving health?

Changing personality traits, improving relationships, reducing racist experiences, and following public health advice.

What defines the ideal 'healthy personality'?

Good mental health, a well-integrated psychological world, positive self-concept, rich emotional life, and fulfilling relationships.

What physical health characteristics are associated with the ideal 'healthy personality'?

Ability to engage in desired activities, feel good, maintain supportive relationships, be productive, and have good memory and decision-making skills.

What is the significance of the relationship between personality traits and health outcomes?

Connections between personality traits and health outcomes are complex and less clear, requiring further research.

What is the challenge in establishing connections between personality traits and health?

The challenge lies in the unclear direction of relationships and the complexity of interactions.

What is the potential for personality change in improving health?

Personality change might be possible but is not easy; more direct routes to health improvement exist.

How can a supportive social network impact longevity?

A partner's life satisfaction can positively influence one's own longevity.

What are the implications of unemployment on health?

Unemployment has negative implications for health, highlighting the importance of conscientiousness in maintaining employment.

What does the text suggest about the point at which a personality trait becomes pathological?

The text questions the existence of a clear point at which a personality trait becomes pathological.

What is the relationship between personality traits and successful relationships?

Traits that promote good relationships include high extraversion and agreeableness, which lead to better interpersonal connections.

How does attachment theory relate to relationships?

Attachment theory suggests that foundational relationships influence later emotional attachments, affecting relationship success.

What traits are associated with being liked in friendships?

Being high on communal traits such as warmth and trustfulness is associated with being liked.

What personality traits predict the number of friends and conflict in relationships?

Extraversion, sociability, and low shyness predict the number of friends and the degree of conflict.

What traits are important for successful dating?

Traits such as warmth and extraversion are important for attracting dates and initiating romantic relationships.

What is the impact of being picky in dating?

Picky individuals are less attracted to their partners, which can hinder relationship success.

What role do social skills play in relationship quality?

Well-developed social skills lead to higher-quality relationships and greater social well-being.

What traits are associated with deal-breakers in relationships?

Introversion and disagreeableness are traits that often lead to deal-breakers in relationships.

How do untrustworthy behaviors affect relationships?

Untrustworthy behaviors and anger issues can sabotage relationships, leading to dissatisfaction.

What personality traits are linked to 'ghosting' behavior?

Individuals high in Machiavellianism and psychopathy are more likely to ghost others.

What is dispositioning contempt in relationships?

appearing cold, arrogant, and emotionally fragile, leading to partner dissatisfaction.

What is rejection sensitivity?

Rejection sensitivity refers to an anxious response to perceived disinterest or irritation from a partner.

How do neuroticism and social anxiety affect relationships?

Neuroticism and social anxiety can make individuals less enjoyable to be with and lead to misperceptions of others' feelings.

What is the average personality profile of individuals likely to have good relationship compatibility?

The average person is fairly agreeable, well-adjusted, and mildly extraverted, which promotes compatibility.

What challenges do non-normal individuals face in relationships?

tend to be disagreeable, neurotic, and introverted, leading to relationship problems.

How does social context influence relationship commitment?

Relationships that do not fit local norms or experience significant stress are at risk for lower commitment or breakup.

What stressors can undermine relationships among marginalized groups?

Stress from racism can undermine relationships among Black couples, while stigma affects same-gender relationships.

What is the significance of emotional traits in relationship success?

Low negative emotionality, high positive emotionality, and good self-control are predictive of success in relationships.

How does social anxiety affect perceptions in relationships?

Socially anxious individuals often misinterpret others' feelings, believing they are disliked even when they are not.

What is the impact of chaotic beginnings in romantic relationships?

The chaotic nature of relationship beginnings requires more understanding to make realistic predictions about success.