Psychology Chapter: Personality Overview

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes autonomic-behavioral dissociation?

Attention bias towards threatening stimuli in stressful tasks.

Low self-reported anxiety with high physiological arousal. (correct)

High self-reported anxiety accompanied by low defensiveness.

Increased pain perception with low physiological response.

What is a potential impact of repressive coping on cardiovascular health?

Decreased heart rate variability under stress.

Improved outcomes after cardiac events.

Increased risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease. (correct)

Higher rates of physical activity and better heart health.

Which of the following statements about cancer patients and repressive coping is accurate?

Repressive coping may lead to delayed diagnosis due to symptom exaggeration.

Mixed findings suggest some repressors may experience poorer outcomes. (correct)

There is consistent evidence that repressors have poorer cancer outcomes.

Repressors always have better outcomes than non-repressors.

How does repressive coping affect pain perception?

They often report less pain but exhibit greater physiological arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What influence does repressive coping have on immune function?

Studies suggest that repressors may have altered immune responses. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does personality primarily influence according to personality psychology?

Behaviours and interactions with the world Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the roles of personality theory in psychological research?

To explain individual differences in reactions to situations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following approaches focuses on identifying specific personality characteristics?

Trait theories Signup and view all the answers

In which era did the situationist perspective, emphasizing environmental influences on behavior, emerge?

1950s-1960s Signup and view all the answers

How does personality psychology primarily differ from social psychology?

Personality psychology focuses on internal processes Signup and view all the answers

How has the understanding of personality and behavior evolved from the 1930s to the 2000s?

It moved from a personality-centric view to an interactionist approach Signup and view all the answers

What significance does personality hold in relation to mental health?

Certain traits can predispose individuals to specific disorders Signup and view all the answers

What practical application does personality research inform?

Employee selection processes Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the general population is estimated to exhibit primary psychopathy traits?

1.2-4.5% Signup and view all the answers

Which assessment tool is considered the gold standard for measuring psychopathy?

Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of secondary psychopathy?

High anxiety Signup and view all the answers

Which trait is NOT part of the Dark Tetrad?

Altruism Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the Light Triad mentioned in the notes?

Emphasis on human connection Signup and view all the answers

Which personality pathology is closely associated with diminished emotional responsiveness?

Psychopathy Signup and view all the answers

Why might long-term studies be particularly important in understanding personality changes related to addiction?

To understand the permanence of personality changes Signup and view all the answers

Which trait is most directly linked to enjoying cruelty and inflicting suffering?

Everyday Sadism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key feature of the dimensional approach to personality disorder diagnosis?

Includes arbitrary diagnostic thresholds Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main criteria in the dimensional approach for diagnosing personality disorders?

Levels of Personality Functioning and Pathological Personality Traits Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following disorders is NOT included as a specific PD diagnosis in the dimensional approach?

Histrionic Personality Disorder Signup and view all the answers

In the dimensional approach, what scale is used to assess levels of impairment in personality functioning?

0 to 4 scale Signup and view all the answers

Which domain is NOT assessed under Criterion B of the dimensional approach?

Anxiety Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant criticism of the categorical approach to diagnosing personality disorders?

It does not capture subthreshold personality pathology effectively. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between the categorical approach and the dimensional approach?

The categorical approach classifies disorders into distinct categories, whereas the dimensional approach views them on a continuum. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does the DSM-5's categorical approach consider when diagnosing personality disorders?

Cultural factors and formulations Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary strength of the categorical approach to personality disorder diagnosis?

It provides a common language for mental health professionals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of the categorical approach in diagnosing personality disorders?

It often leads to arbitrary thresholds for diagnoses. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects a strength of the dimensional approach?

It offers a nuanced description of an individual's personality functioning. Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception does the categorical approach perpetuate?

All individuals can be neatly categorized into distinct personality disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major weakness of relying solely on the categorical approach for diagnosis?

High rates of comorbidity between diagnoses. Signup and view all the answers

Why might the dimensional approach be more beneficial in diagnosing personality disorders?

It accommodates a wide range of personality functioning and complexity. Signup and view all the answers

How does the categorical approach benefit treatment decisions?

It provides clear-cut present/absent diagnoses that aid in intervention selection. Signup and view all the answers

What impact can the categorical approach have on a patient's self-perception?

It can perpetuate negative stereotypes and discrimination. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Personality: Definition and Importance

Personality is expressed through behaviors and interactions with the world.
Personality impacts various aspects of life, including social interactions, stress management, decision-making, and goal pursuit.

Personality in Psychology

Personality theory helps explain individual differences in reactions to situations.
Understanding personality can predict behavior in different contexts.
Personality is crucial for understanding mental health and disorders, as certain traits can predispose individuals to specific issues.
Personality knowledge is essential for effective psychotherapy and counseling.
Personality serves as a framework for integrating psychological concepts and theories.
Personality research informs areas such as employee selection, education, and criminal justice.

Approaches to Personality

Trait Theories focus on identifying and measuring specific personality characteristics.
Psychodynamic Theories emphasize unconscious processes and early life experiences.
Humanistic Theories stress the importance of free will and self-actualization.
Social-Cognitive Theories examine how our thoughts about situations shape our personalities.

Historical Evolution: The relationship has evolved from a personality-centric view (1930s) to a situationist perspective (1950s-1960s) to an interactionist approach (1980s) and a nuanced understanding of complex person-situation interactions (2000s onwards).
Focal Points:
- Personality Psychology focuses on individual differences, traits, and internal processes.
- Social Psychology examines how social environments and interpersonal interactions shape behavior.

Autonomic-Behavioral Dissociation

A disconnect between physiological arousal and self-reported emotional state.
Characteristics:
- Low self-reported anxiety + high defensiveness.
- High physiological arousal during stressful tasks.
- Attention bias away from threatening stimuli in experimental settings.

Impact on Physical Health

Cardiovascular Health:
- Increased risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease.
- Poorer outcomes after cardiac events.
- Possible mechanisms: chronic physiological arousal, delayed help-seeking, poor adherence to treatment.
Cancer:
- Mixed findings, but some evidence of poorer outcomes in cancer patients who are repressors.
- May influence delayed diagnosis due to symptom minimisation.
Immune Function:
- Some studies suggest repressors have altered immune responses.
- Potential for increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Pain Perception and Management:
- Repressors often report less pain but show higher physiological arousal during painful stimuli.
- May lead to undertreatment of pain conditions.

Psychopathy and the Dark Triad/Tetrad

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.
Assessment:
- Gold Standard: Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).
- Assesses interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions.
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.
Treatment:
- Limited evidence for effective treatment.
- Some studies show treatment may increase aggression in some psychopaths.
Dark Triad:
- Constellation of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism.
- Traits are intercorrelated but not equivalent.
- Associated with unethical behavior, selfishness, and antisocial tendencies.
Dark Tetrad:
- Adds everyday sadism as a fourth trait.
- Sadism linked to enjoying cruelty and inflicting suffering.
Light Triad:
- Proposed as opposite of Dark Triad.
- Consists of Kantianism, Humanism, and Faith in Humanity.
- Associated with more positive traits and outcomes.

Personality & Wellbeing and Personality Assessment & Theory

Overview of Humanistic and Positive Psychology
Self-Determination Theory and Basic Psychological Needs
Personality Variables and Subjective Well Being
McAdams's Personality Triad

Categorical Approach to Personality Disorder Diagnosis

Strengths:
- Simplicity.
- Familiarity.
- Aids clinical decision-making.
- Facilitates communication.
- Provides treatment guidance.
Weaknesses:
- Oversimplification.
- Comorbidity.
- Stigma.
- Limited severity focus.
- Arbitrary thresholds.

Dimensional Approach to Personality Disorder Diagnosis

Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD):
- Views personality pathology as existing on a continuum, rather than discrete categories.
Key Features:
- Continuous rather than categorical.
- Two Main Criteria:
  - Criterion A: Levels of Personality Functioning.
  - Criterion B: Pathological Personality Traits.
- Criterion A: Levels of Personality Functioning:
  - Assesses impairment in four domains: Identity, Self-direction, Empathy, and Intimacy.
  - Uses a scale from 0 (no impairment) to 4 (extreme impairment).
  - Moderate or greater impairment is required for a PD diagnosis.
- Criterion B: Pathological Personality Traits:
  - Assesses five broad trait domains: Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Psychoticism.
  - Each domain includes several more specific trait facets.
  - Traits are rated on a 4-point scale.
- Specific PD Diagnoses:
  - Retains six specific PD diagnoses (Antisocial, Avoidant, Borderline, Narcissistic, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Schizotypal).
  - Defined by particular combinations of impairment and traits.

Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Approaches

Categorical Approach:*
Strengths:
- Simplicity.
- Familiarity.
- Aids clinical decision-making.
- Facilitates communication.
- Provides treatment guidance.
Weaknesses:
- Oversimplification.
- Comorbidity.
- Stigma.
- Limited severity focus.
- Arbitrary thresholds.
Dimensional Approach:*
Strengths:
- Nuanced description.
Weaknesses:
- Complexity and requiring more training and expertise.
- Less familiarity and alignment with existing clinical practice.
- Ongoing research needed to validate and refine the approach.

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Explore the definition and significance of personality in psychology. This quiz covers various theories and approaches to personality, including how individual differences impact behavior and mental health. Test your understanding of how personality influences social interactions, decision-making, and psychotherapy.