Podcast
Questions and Answers
What characteristic is primarily associated with a Type C personality?
What characteristic is primarily associated with a Type C personality?
What was a key finding from Nakaya et al.'s 2010 study regarding neuroticism and extraversion?
What was a key finding from Nakaya et al.'s 2010 study regarding neuroticism and extraversion?
What evidence did Price et al. (2001) provide regarding Type C personality traits?
What evidence did Price et al. (2001) provide regarding Type C personality traits?
Which of the following best describes repressive coping?
Which of the following best describes repressive coping?
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What limitation was identified in McKenna et al.'s (1999) meta-analysis on denial/repression coping in breast cancer patients?
What limitation was identified in McKenna et al.'s (1999) meta-analysis on denial/repression coping in breast cancer patients?
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What was one of the findings from the 2008 longitudinal study regarding repressors?
What was one of the findings from the 2008 longitudinal study regarding repressors?
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According to the Montreal Heart Attack Readjustment trial, which of the following was observed in repressors?
According to the Montreal Heart Attack Readjustment trial, which of the following was observed in repressors?
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What is one potential mechanism linking repressive coping to poor health outcomes?
What is one potential mechanism linking repressive coping to poor health outcomes?
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Which strategy is suggested for addressing the health impacts of repressive coping in healthcare?
Which strategy is suggested for addressing the health impacts of repressive coping in healthcare?
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What aspect of repressive coping may lead to chronic physiological arousal?
What aspect of repressive coping may lead to chronic physiological arousal?
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Study Notes
Personality and Cancer
- Neuroticism and Extraversion are not related to cancer risk or survival (Nakaya et al, 2010)
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Type C Personality was proposed as a cancer-prone personality (Temoshok, 1987)
- Characteristics: Overly cooperative, unassertive, suppresses negative emotions (anger), accepts/complies with external authorities, helpless or hopeless
- Theory: Heightened arousal reduces immune system functioning
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Subsequent research does not consistently support the Type C concept:
- Price et al (2001) found no association between Type C traits and cancer outcomes
- Blatný & Adam (2008) reported inconsistent findings
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Large-scale studies found no association between personality traits and cancer risk/mortality:
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Jokela et al.(2014) meta-analysis:
- 6 prospective studies, 42,843 participants
- 2156 incident cancer cases
- No association between Five Factor Model (OCEAN) personality traits and cancer risk/mortality
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Jokela et al.(2014) meta-analysis:
Repressive Coping
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Repressive coping is a defense mechanism characterized by:
- Low self-reported anxiety
- High defensiveness
- Physiological-subjective discrepancy: Low reported anxiety but high physiological arousal
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Key research:
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Weinberger et al.(1979): Developed a method to identify repressors using anxiety and defensiveness scales
- Repressors score low on anxiety measures but high on defensiveness scales
- Denollet et al.(2008): Found over 20% of coronary heart disease patients classified as repressors
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Weinberger et al.(1979): Developed a method to identify repressors using anxiety and defensiveness scales
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Repressive coping and health outcomes:
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Repressive coping is associated with poorer health outcomes, especially in cancer and heart disease:
- McKenna et al.(1999) meta-analysis: Strong support for denial/repression coping in breast cancer patients
- Denollet et al.(2008) longitudinal study: Repressors had a two-fold increased risk of death, myocardial infarction, and other cardiac events
- Frasure-Smith et al.(2002) Montreal Heart Attack Readjustment trial: Repressors showed poorer survival outcomes
- Mund & Mitte (2012) meta-analysis: Significant associations between repressive coping and cardiovascular diseases (especially hypertension)
- For cancer, repressive coping appeared to be a consequence rather than a cause.
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Repressive coping is associated with poorer health outcomes, especially in cancer and heart disease:
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Potential mechanisms linking repressive coping to poor health outcomes:
- Underestimation of stress
- Non-compliance with medical advice/ treatment plans
- Physiological stress
- Delayed help-seeking
- Impaired emotional processing
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Implications for healthcare:
- Screening: Identify repressors for tailored interventions
- Patient education: Help repressors recognize the potential for their coping to impact their health
- Stress management: Develop interventions that address both psychological and physiological aspects of stress for repressors
Addictive Personality
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Historical context:
- Researchers sought to identify an "addiction-prone" personality (1950s-1960s)
- Studies compared addicts to non-addicts
- Zimmering (1952) was an early proponent of this idea.
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Methodological issues:
- Sample bias: Studies often used individuals already in treatment
- Causality problems: Not clear if personality preceded addiction or resulted from it
- Lack of consideration for environmental and social factors
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Key study:
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Gendreau & Gendreau (1970): Found no significant differences between addicts and non-addicts
- Challenged the "addiction-prone” personality concept.
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Gendreau & Gendreau (1970): Found no significant differences between addicts and non-addicts
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Modern understanding:
- No single set of personality characteristics that account for all addictions
- Focus on how various personality traits might increase risk for specific addictions
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Problems with the concept (Amodeo, 2015):
- Homogenizing: One-size-fits-all approach
- False categorizing: Labeling based on personality traits alone
- Hopelessness: Sense of inevitability for those who identify with "addictive personality" traits.
- False assurance: Those who don't fit the profile might wrongly assume they're not at risk
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Current research directions:
- Focus on specific personality traits (e.g., impulsivity, neuroticism) and their relationship to different types of addictions.
- Explore how personality interacts with environmental, genetic, and neurobiological factors in addiction development.
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Limitations and Future Directions:
- Most studies focus on alcohol
- Long-term studies are needed
- Research on how treatment approaches affect personality recovery
Psychopathy and the Dark Triad/Tetrad
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Psychopathy: Personality pathology involving predatory behavior, emotional detachment, callousness, impulsivity, and antisocial behavior
- Prevalence: 1.2-4.5% in general population, 20-40% in prison population
- Primary Psychopathy: Low anxiety, narcissism, possibly genetic
- Secondary Psychopathy: High anxiety, possibly acquired
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Assessment:
- Gold standard: Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)
- Assesses interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions
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Causes:
- Secondary psychopathy linked to adverse childhood experiences
- Primary psychopathy may have neurobiological basis (e.g. amygdala dysfunction)
- Associated with diminished emotional responsiveness and fearless dominance
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Treatment:
- Limited evidence for effective treatment
- Some studies show treatment may increase aggression in some psychopaths
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Dark Triad:
- Constellation of Psychopathy, Narcissism, and Machiavellianism
- Traits are intercorrelated but not equivalent
- Associated with unethical behavior, selfishness, and antisocial tendencies
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Dark Tetrad:
- Adds Everyday Sadism
- Sadism linked to enjoying cruelty and inflicting suffering
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Light Triad:
- Proposed as opposite of Dark Triad
- Consists of Kantianism, Humanism, and Faith in Humanity
- Associated with more positive traits and outcomes
Personality and Wellbeing
- Overview of Humanistic and Positive Psychology: Focus on human potential, well-being, and positive aspects of human experience
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Self-Determination Theory (SDT):
- Humans have inherent psychological needs:
- Autonomy: Feeling in control
- Competence: Feeling effective
- Relatedness: Feeling connected to others
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Research applications: Education, work, healthcare, sports
- Satisfaction of basic needs is associated with higher well-being
- Intrinsic motivation is a stronger predictor of performance quality than extrinsic motivation
- Humans have inherent psychological needs:
Personality Assessment and Theory
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Subjective Well Being (SWB): How people evaluate their lives
- Cognitive: Life satisfaction
- Affective: Positive and negative emotions
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Five-Factor Model (FFM) traits and SWB:
- Neuroticism: Strongest negative predictor
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McAdams's Personality Triad:
- Dispositional traits: Habitual patterns of behavior and experience.
- Characteristic adaptations: Goals, values, beliefs, and coping mechanisms that develop in response to one's environment.
- Narrative identity: Stories people construct about their lives.
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Description
Explore the relationship between personality traits and cancer risk through this quiz. Delve into the concepts of Type C personality and its proposed effects on health, along with studies challenging these associations. Test your understanding of how personality might influence cancer outcomes.
