Psychology Chapter on Personality and Self-Concept

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What should be prioritized when managing a client's anger during a therapeutic session?

Discussing the client's personal life in detail

Evaluating the effectiveness of past interventions

Ensuring the physical safety of everyone involved (correct)

Identifying the client's weaknesses

Which strategy is least effective in helping a client manage impulse control?

Teaching the client to ‘stop and think’ before acting

Assisting in evaluating the outcomes of their actions

Encouraging spontaneous decision-making in unresolved situations (correct)

Identifying potential problems before they arise

In what situation should a nurse avoid diagnosing a client?

When the client is under stress from work

When the client is reluctant to discuss their past

If the client exhibits signs of frustration

During an active phase of another illness (correct)

What is the main focus of maintaining professionalism during client interactions?

Limiting interactions to scheduled duties for professional purposes Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended way to express anger constructively?

Using physical outlets like sports or journaling Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the distinction between ego syntonic and ego dystonic disorders?

Individuals with ego syntonic disorders are unaware of their issues, while those with ego dystonic disorders recognize and are distressed by their problems. Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym TIDE in diagnosing personality disorders represent?

Traits that are Inflexible, Disabling, and/or Extreme. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the five main personality traits?

Intelligence Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least likely to be associated with personality disorder risk?

Financial stability Signup and view all the answers

A person with high neuroticism is likely to exhibit which of the following traits?

Frequent anxiety and moodiness. Signup and view all the answers

How can personality traits evolve over time?

They can change in response to significant life events and experiences. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about self-esteem is false?

Low self-esteem is typically unrelated to personality disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Strong distrust and suspicion Signup and view all the answers

Which age group is most at risk for developing Cluster A personality disorders?

Adolescents and young adults Signup and view all the answers

What is a common defense mechanism used by individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Projection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a typical nursing consideration when dealing with Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Stick to promises, appointments, and schedules Signup and view all the answers

What treatment is considered the first line for Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Psychotherapy focused on development of trust Signup and view all the answers

What is a common emotional response exhibited by individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder when they feel deceived?

Severe reaction and deep grudges Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is false regarding Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Interpersonal relationships are typically deep and trusting. Signup and view all the answers

Which pharmacological treatments may assist with severe agitation in Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Antianxiety medications and antipsychotics Signup and view all the answers

What common behavior is associated with the interpersonal relationships of individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Maintaining superficial interactions Signup and view all the answers

What is one role of antidepressants in treatment?

To manage symptoms such as panic attacks Signup and view all the answers

What factor is crucial to assess during psychological evaluation?

Recent changes in personality Signup and view all the answers

Which method is least effective in ensuring communication during assessments?

Asking closed, leading questions Signup and view all the answers

Why is monitoring medication use important in treatment?

To prevent medication dependence Signup and view all the answers

When are personality traits most likely diagnosed?

Before adulthood, if interventions are made early Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered during a psychological assessment?

Recent life changes and their impact Signup and view all the answers

How might a lack of insight affect assessment results?

It can hinder effective communication. Signup and view all the answers

Which assessment technique is most effective for understanding client perception?

Semi-structured interviews Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding childhood personality development?

Personality traits often develop but remain undiagnosed until adulthood. Signup and view all the answers

What type of questions is recommended to gather comprehensive self-assessments?

Open-ended questions Signup and view all the answers

What is a common emotional characteristic seen in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder?

Unstable moods leading to intense joy and rage Signup and view all the answers

Which treatment approach is specifically noted as being helpful for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Signup and view all the answers

Which pharmacological option is suggested to potentially help self-injury behaviors in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder?

Naltrexone Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Manipulation for attention and constant gratification Signup and view all the answers

What should nursing staff be particularly wary of when treating patients with Borderline Personality Disorder?

Patients attempting to manipulate staff against one another Signup and view all the answers

Which population is less likely to be diagnosed with Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Individuals from Asian cultures Signup and view all the answers

What key factor differentiates Narcissistic Personality Disorder from other personality disorders?

Belief in their own perfection Signup and view all the answers

Individuals with narcissistic traits often respond poorly to which of the following?

Rejection Signup and view all the answers

Which therapeutic approach combines methods from CBT with other psychotherapies to alter self-perception?

Schema Therapy Signup and view all the answers

What should you be cautious of regarding the emotional expression of individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Their emotional expression is often exaggerated or shallow. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem, and Self-Concept

Self-awareness involves introspection and exploring thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and values.
Self-esteem refers to an individual's self-regard and valuation.
Self-concept encompasses body image, role performance, and personal identity.

Issues in Personality Disorders

Ego-syntonic disorders: The individual doesn't perceive a problem with their personality traits. Typical of personality disorders.
Ego-dystonic disorders: The individual is aware of the problem and distressed by their personality traits. Examples include obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Personality

Personality combines your traits and how you act and think.
Personality evolves over time.
Harmful traits negatively impacting life, work, and social interactions may indicate a personality disorder.

When is a Personality Disorder Diagnosed?

Traits become inflexible, disabling, and/or extreme.

5 Main Personality Traits

Openness: Openness to new experiences.
Conscientiousness: Impulse control and adherence to standards.
Extroversion: Introversion versus extroversion.
Agreeableness: How one interacts with others, generosity vs. aggression.
Neuroticism: Emotional stability versus dysregulation, including anxiety, moodiness, and confidence.

Risk Factors for Personality Disorders (PD)

Genetic factors: Tend to run in families, little data.
Environmental factors: Exposure to trauma and abuse, and perception of events, particularly low socioeconomic status.
Neurobiological factors: Certain neurotransmitters may influence temperament, potential brain size and functional differences.

What Do We Know About Personality Disorders?

Personality Disorders represent a challenging and complex group of disorders.
Difficulty with thoughts/emotions, managing impulses, participation in interpersonal relationships, distinguishes individual disorders with varying characteristics.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Behavior is characterized by odd, reclusive, and eccentric traits.
Common in men, young age, and adolescence. Common risk factors include having a relative with schizophrenia.
Subtypes, examples: Paranoid personality disorder.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 2-4% of the population.
Defining Characteristics: Strong distrust of others, suspicion of others' motives, assumptions of disappointment. Often maintain superficial relationships, use projection, and hold grudges—hostile, and hypervigilant.
Treatment: Therapy focused on developing trust, clear/straightforward communication, and boundary setting. Pharmacology (anti-anxiety/anti-psychotics).
Nursing considerations: Be clear and direct.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 5% of the population.
Defining Characteristics: Disinterest in social interactions, lifelong pattern of withdrawal, generally poor school performance, poor interpersonal relationships. May have imaginary friends/fantasies, and dislike physical contact along with flat affect or lack of expression of emotion. The person may feel like an observer.
Treatment: Psychotherapy, addressing introspective needs and trust development.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 0.6-4.6% of the population.
Defining Characteristics: Withdrawn and socially detached, magical thinking, unusual/odd speech and behaviors, inappropriate affect, and self-centred speech, poor ability to relate/understand others. Extreme social anxiety, and suspiciousness. Also, symptoms of schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
Treatment: Psychotherapy aimed at building trust and social skills. Pharmacology (anti-psychotics/anti-depressants).
Nursing considerations: Respect social isolation needs/beliefs, awareness of behaviors.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Behavior is impulsive and dramatic.
Subtypes: Antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 0.2-3.3% of the population (overrepresented in prison population). Often underdiagnosed in women.
Defining Characteristics: Impulsive, manipulative behavior for personal gain, often lacking remorse, superficial charm or manipulation, violence, disregard of others, and difficulty controlling impulses. Begins at a young age.
Treatment: Psychotherapy (long and intense, sometimes anger management).

Borderline Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 5.9% in general population, 20% in inpatient care, more common n women, childhood trauma(abuse), and abandonment.
Defining Characteristics: Unstable moods (joy to extreme rage), impulsive behaviors, depression, splitting (seeing people as purely good or bad), substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors.
Treatment: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) therapy, psycho/schema therapy, pharmacology(anti-depressants/anti-convulsants/mood stabilizers/anti-psychotics).

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 2% of population, less common in Asian cultures.
Defining Characteristics: Desire to be the center of attention, exaggerated/shallow emotions, seeks constant gratification, and manipulates for attention. Has a strong sense of inadequacy and helplessness, vague speech, and may have highly sexualized behavior.
Treatment: Psychotherapy (e.g., individual therapy, clarification of inner feelings).

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 0.1-6% in the population, more common in men, childhood neglect.
Defining Characteristics: Entitled, arrogant, believe they are perfect, grandiose, intense fear of abandonment, difficulties with relationships, poor self-esteem.
Treatment: Psychotherapy (CBT), family therapy.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 2.4% of population, equal in men and women, childhood peer rejection/criticism.
Defining Characteristics: Want close relationships but fear social interactions due to fear of ridicule or criticism, feelings of inadequacy, shyness and timidity, and hypersensitivity to negative feedback.
Treatment: Psychotherapy (CBT, social skills training), pharmacology (anti-anxiety).

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Prevalence: 2.1-7.9% of the population, more common in men, childhood criticism and control.
Defining Characteristics: Strive for perfection, inflexible rules, perfectionistic, preoccupied with orderliness to the degree that it interferes with task completion.
Treatment: Psychotherapy (CBT), pharmacology.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Prevalence: 0.5% of the population (rare), risk of chronic physical illness or punishment for independence in childhood.
Defining Characteristics: Extreme dependency on relationships, fear of separation, seeking out dominant personalities, see themselves as inadequate.
Treatment: Psychotherapy (CBT), pharmacology (anti-depressants/anxiolytics).

Assessment

Semi-structured interviews, often lacking insight and trust.
Poor communication skills.
Assess work/behavior problems, substance use, violence, etc.
Open-ended questions, rule out other illnesses, and assure safety.

Typical Interview Highlights

Safety assessment
Physical and mental assessment
Determine medical/psychiatric history (responsible), recent relevant changes in life.
Recent or long-term personality changes.

Diagnosis

Often goes underdiagnosed.
Traits may develop early but aren't diagnosed until adulthood.
Avoid diagnosing during crisis/active phase of another disorder.

Maintaining Boundaries

Personal life: Focus on client, limited details about background.
Confidentiality: Ensure confidentiality, discuss only relevant aspects with health care team.
Professionalism: Interactions within clinical setting, scheduled duty hours.
Respect: Respect institution, work policies, other team members.

Anger Control

Determine expectations re expression of anger
Limit frustrating situations
Encourage coping mechanisms
Keep safety a priority
Use physical outlets for expressing anger

Impulse Control

Identify problems requiring thoughtful action.
Assess possible courses of action (costs and benefits).
Teach “stop and think” skills.
Evaluate outcomes and reinforce positive outcomes.
Provide problem-solving opportunities.

Additional Notes for the Specific Case

Client's history of abandonment, family problems, alcohol and drug use requires specific intervention.
Assessment of suicide risk and need for immediate support was crucial.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores key concepts related to personality, including self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-concept. It also delves into personality disorders, distinguishing between ego-syntonic and ego-dystonic disorders. Test your understanding of how personality traits evolve and when a personality disorder may be diagnosed.