Introduction to Personality Psychology

Psychological Introduction

• Normal behavior is statistically average, not necessarily healthy
• Abnormal behavior is outside of normal limits, often diagnosed via DMS-IV
• Personality disorders include criminal or perceived "evil" tendencies

Personality Psychology

• Personality psychology scientifically examines factors shaping an individual's personality influenced by environmental and genetic factors
• The Barnum Effect describes the tendency to accept vague statements about personality as accurate.
• The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) measures personality traits and mental health issues through self-report measures
• Personality assessment is used for diagnosis, counseling, education, and research

Principles of Measurement

• Reliability refers to consistency in response to a psychological assessment tool
• Validity refers to the tool's accuracy in measuring what it intends to measure

Types of Assessments

• Self-report measures involve questionnaires
• Projective techniques use ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious feelings; example- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and Rorschach Inkblot Test
• Clinical interviews gather information through direct questioning
• Behavioral observations and experience sampling involve systematic recording of behavior or samples over time

Personality Disorders

• Personality disorders represent inflexible, maladaptive behaviors that deviate from cultural norms, commonly grouped into clusters (A, B, and C)
  • Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal traits; odd/eccentric characteristics
  • Cluster B involves antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality traits; dramatic/erratic traits
  • Cluster C contains avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive traits; anxious/fearful characteristics

Extremes of Personality Continuum

• Personality traits stem from a combination of genes, temperament, and environmental factors, largely formed during childhood experiences.
• A range of personality traits exists; some are perceived as more desirable than others, with extremes being either healthy or unhealthy.

Common Personality Disorders

• Paranoid personality: extreme distrust and suspicion
• Schizoid personality: detachment from social relationships
• Schizotypal personality: discomfort in close relationships and unusual beliefs
• Antisocial personality: disregard for rights of others and rules (often criminal)
• Borderline personality: unstable relationships, emotions, and self-image
• Histrionic personality: excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior
• Narcissistic personality: grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy
• Avoidant personality: social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and fear of rejection
• Dependent personality: excessive need to be cared for and submissive behavior
• Obsessive-compulsive personality: preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control

Additional Topics

• Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies to protect the ego from anxiety caused by various external and internal stressors
• Freudian slips reflect unconscious motives or anxieties
• Anxiety arises from conflicts between the id, ego, and superego, arising from conscious/unconscious interactions and conflicts impacting self-esteem