Recording-2025-04-01T21:57:54.472Z

• Week 10 Overview

  • This is technically week 10 of the semester. Some confusion exists about whether to count spring break.

• Due Dates

  • Due dates for the week’s module were pushed back due to issues with module accessibility.

  • Extra time was granted to students because of an unforeseen delay in opening the module.

  • There’s an importance to recognize the need for communication regarding these changes.

• Travel Experience

  • The teacher discussed a recent travel experience that was challenging.

  • Issues included small planes, turbulence, and difficult weather on travel days, which added stress to the journey.

  • A minor anecdote was shared regarding a girl on the plane having a panic attack due to turbulence.

• Personality Disorders

  • The instructor decided to cover all personality disorders comprehensively for better understanding, particularly in relation to upcoming quizzes.

  • Personality disorders involve enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that significantly diverge from cultural expectations. They typically stem from early adulthood.

  • Questions posed included definitions and characteristics of personality disorders.

• Key Features of Personality Disorders

  • Persistent and stable over time.

  • Inflexibility across various situations, leading to distress in personal or occupational functioning.

  • Diagnoses often rely on observing behaviors and traits over time.

• Clusters of Personality Disorders

  • Personality disorders are categorized into three clusters:

  • Cluster A: Odd or eccentric (e.g., paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal).

  • Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, erratic (e.g., antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic).

  • Cluster C: Anxious or fearful (e.g., avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive).

Definitions of Cluster A Disorders:

• Paranoid Personality Disorder

  • Persistent distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting motives as malevolent.

  • Traits include unjustified doubts about loyalty, unwillingness to confide, and reading threatening meanings into benign remarks.

• Schizoid Personality Disorder

  • Pattern of detachment from social relationships and limited emotional expression.

  • Individuals choose solitary activities and lack close friends, appearing indifferent to praise or criticism.

• Schizotypal Personality Disorder

  • Characterized by discomfort in close relationships, distorted beliefs, and eccentric behavior.

  • Components include odd beliefs, unusual thinking, and social anxiety.

Transitioning to Cluster B Disorders:

• Strong emphasis on understanding these disorders due to their prevalence and visibility in various aspects of life.

• Antisocial Personality Disorder

  • Disregard for others' rights, impulsivity, deceitfulness, irritability, lack of remorse, among other traits.

  • Recognizing its relation to criminal behavior.

• Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Instability in relationships, self-image, and impulsivity.

  • Includes chronic feelings of emptiness, intense anger, and attempts to avoid abandonment.

• Histrionic Personality Disorder

  • Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.

  • Rapidly shifting emotions, suggestibility, and presenting oneself dramatically.

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

  • Grandiosity, associated needs for admiration, and a lack of empathy.

  • Trademarks include superiority beliefs, entitlement, and exploiting others for personal gain.

Cluster C Disorders

• Avoidant Personality Disorder

  • Pattern of social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy.

  • Characterized by avoidance of social situations due to fear of criticism or rejection.

• Dependent Personality Disorder

  • Reliance on others for decision-making and fear of separation.

  • Affects their independence, often leading to unhealthy relationships.

• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

  • Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility.

  • This differs from OCD, as it lacks the compulsive behaviors observed in OCD.

Closing Remarks

• The session also highlighted the need for a clinical assessment and a comprehensive treatment plan as a major assignment.

  • Students were encouraged to brainstorm potential figures for assessment and consult with the professor regarding their choices.

  • The importance of understanding and identifying these disorders was emphasized as essential for both personal and professional settings.

  • Ongoing support and guidance will be provided throughout the course.