Personality Psychology PDF

Chapter 13 PERSONALITY 1 Personality People’s typical way of thinking, feeling, and behaving ◦ Stable tendencies within individuals that influence how they respond to their environments. Gordon Allport’s (1966) –relatively enduring predispositi...

Chapter 13 PERSONALITY 1 Personality People’s typical way of thinking, feeling, and behaving ◦ Stable tendencies within individuals that influence how they respond to their environments. Gordon Allport’s (1966) –relatively enduring predispositions that influence our behavior across many situations. Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 2 An Overview A personality disorder is: A persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, behaviour, deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture  enduring emotional distress for affected person and others Causes difficulties with work and relationships The DSM-5 TR lists 10 specific personality disorders Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 3 1  An Overview Criteria that distinguish ‘normal’ versus ‘disordered’ personality (Livesley and colleagues) Normal Personality is having adaptive solutions to life tasks. Three life tasks (Livesley, 1998) 1. To form stable, integrated and coherent representations of self and others 2. To develop capacity for intimacy 3. To engage in pro-social and cooperative Personality disorders occur when there is a failure to manage any one of these life tasks (Flett et al., 2017) Copyright © 2017 by John Wiley and Sons. 4 Normal Personality and Personality Disorders Criteria that distinguish ‘normal’ versus ‘disordered’ personality- Millon’s (1986) Perspective : Key criteria: ◦ Rigid and inflexible– the person has difficulty altering his/her behaviour according to changes in the situation ◦ Structural instability -- refers to a fragility to the self that ‘cracks’ under stress (Flett et al., 2017) Copyright © 2017 by John Wiley and Sons. 5 An Overview Category of personality disorders is controversial. Categorical and Dimensional Models Problems of kind vs. problems of degree Low Stability of personality disorders diagnoses - a major criticism of categorical approach ◦ (Cluster B disorders – highest stability over time) Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 6 2  An Overview DSM- 5 Eliminated Axis II (DSM-IV-TR) Maintained same categories as DSM-IV-TR Considered dimensional approach, which is described as an ‘alternative model’ (AMPD) in DSM-5 Section III ◦ Dimensional perspective: disordered personality reflects extreme levels of tendencies (traits) that exist on a continuum. ◦ Not fully adopted in DSM-5, remains a proposal Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 7 An Overview Assessing Personality Disorders 1. Clinical Interviews – the preferred method ◦ Family members- informants 2. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) is a psychological test that assesses personality traits and psychopathology; 567 true-false questions MMPI- 2 RF (Restructured form) 338 (Flett et al., 2017) MMPI -3 (2020) 335 items Copyright © 2017 by John Wiley and Sons 8 An Overview Assessing Personality Disorders 3. Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV: the most widely used measure of personality disorder symptoms ◦ 195 true-false statements (Flett et al., 2017) Copyright © 2017 by John Wiley and Sons 9 3  An Overview Five-factor model of personality to be used as a meaningful way of measuring personality traits ◦ Extraversion (talkative, assertive, & active vs. silent, passive, & and reserved); ◦ Agreeableness (kind, trusting, and warm versus hostile, selfish, and mistrustful); ◦ Conscientiousness (organized, thorough, and reliable versus careless, negligent, and unreliable); Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 10 An Overview Five-factor model (contd.) ◦ Neuroticism (nervous, moody, and temperamental versus even-tempered); and ◦ Openness to experience (imaginative, curious, and creative versus shallow and imperceptive) Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 11 An Overview Personality Disorder Clusters DSM-5 TR divides personality disorders into three clusters. Cluster A – Odd/Eccentric ◦ Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Cluster B – Dramatic/Erratic ◦ Anti-social, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Cluster C – Anxious/Fearful ◦ Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 12 4  Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 13 An Overview Statistics  Worldwide prevalence 7.8% (2020) ◦ More in high-income countries  Men tend to be diagnosed more PDs more often as compared to women overall, sp. APD  BPD, HPD more common in women Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 14 An Overview Statistics Gender Differences  Criterion gender bias -the likelihood that men and women may exhibit the disorder differently because PD criteria include gender-related symptomatology  Assessment gender bias ◦ Histrionic personality disorder biased against females & APD biased against males Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 15 5  An Overview Statistics Comorbidity It is difficult to diagnose a single, specific personality disorder people exhibit a wide range of traits several possible diagnoses Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 16 Cluster A Disorders Paranoid Personality Disorder - Suspicious, mistrustful of others without justification Clinical Description Argumentative, may complain or stay quiet, hostile toward others, suicidal Tend to blame others Can be extremely jealous Ideas of reference- mistaken beliefs that meaningless events relate just to them Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 17 Cluster A Disorders Paranoid Personality Disorder Bears relationship to: ◦ Paranoid type of schizophrenia ◦ Delusional disorder ◦ Hallucinations and full-blown delusions are not present ◦ Less impairment in social and occupational functioning than paranoid schizophrenia Comorbid with schizotypal and avoidant personality disorders Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 18 6  Cluster A Disorders Paranoid Personality Disorder Causes Biological contribution – limited evidence Genetics Slightly more common among the relatives of people with schizophrenia Mistreatment or traumatic childhood experiences (retrospective research) – memory bias Cognitive factors – Mistaken assumptions about people and the world Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 19 Cluster A Disorders Paranoid Personality Disorder Treatment Difficulty in establishing relationship with therapist (mistrustful of everyone) Cognitive therapy to change mistaken assumptions about others (cognitive restructuring) Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 20 Cluster A Disorders Schizoid Personality Disorder Clinical Description Detachment from social relationships, no desire to enjoy closeness with others, cold, aloof, constricted affect Absence of the unusual thought processes that characterize the other disorders in Cluster A ◦ e.g., ideas of reference Slightly more common in men Comorbid with schizotypal, avoidant, and paranoid personality disorders Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 21 7  Cluster A Disorders Schizoid Personality Disorder Causes ◦ Very little research ◦ Childhood shyness (a precursor), abuse, neglect ◦ Low density of dopamine receptors Treatment ◦ Rare to seek treatment ◦ Therapy- Emphasis on the value in social relationships ◦ Social skills training Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 22 Cluster A Disorders Schizotypal Personality Disorder Clinical Description Eccentric thinking, social deficits, psychotic-like symptoms Cognitive impairment/Paranoid ideation Ideas of reference “Magical thinking” - unusual or irrational beliefs that events or thoughts can influence the world in supernatural or extraordinary ways Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 23 Cluster A Disorders Schizotypal Personality Disorder Clinical Description Odd speech Eccentric behaviour and appearance Hypersensitive to criticism as children Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 24 8  Cluster A Disorders Schizotypal Personality Disorder ◦ Comorbid with borderline, avoidant and paranoid personality disorders ◦ May increase the risk of developing major depressive disorder Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 25 Cluster A Disorders Schizotypal Personality Disorder Causes Genetics: Family, Twin, adoption studies (Norway 2017) - prevalence of disorder in relatives of people with schizophrenia Left hemisphere damage: mild to moderate impairment on memory and learning assessments Enlarged ventricles and less temporal lobe grey matter Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 26 Cluster A Disorders Schizotypal Personality Disorder Treatment Limited data Antipsychotic medication, community treatment, social skills training, CBT ◦ Reduce symptoms or may postpone the onset of later schizophrenia Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 27 9  Cluster B Disorders Histrionic Personality Disorder Clinical Description  Dramatic, theatrical, self-centred, vain, seek constant reassurance, impulsive ◦ View situations in global, black-and-white terms ◦ Speech is often vague, lacking in detail Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 28 Cluster B Disorders Histrionic Personality Disorder  Higher in women: may be overdiagnosed ◦ Western “stereotypical female”; overdramatic, vain, seductive, overconcerned with physical appearance Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 29 Cluster B Disorders Histrionic Personality Disorder Causes Limited research Psychoanalytic theory Often co-occurs with antisocial personality disorder Treatment Improving problematic interpersonal relationships Modification of interactional style Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 30 10  Cluster B Disorders Narcissistic Personality Disorder Clinical Description Unreasonable sense of self- importance, grandiosity No compassion for others, envious, arrogant Frequently depressed Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 31 Cluster B Disorders Narcissistic Personality Disorder Causes Failure of empathetic “mirroring” from parents Child remains fixated at self-centred, grandiose stage of development Treatment CBT, coping strategies (relaxation training, accepting criticism), empathizing, treatment for depression Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 32 Cluster B Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Clinical Description Impulsivity and instability in relationships, mood, and self-image, fear abandonment, no control over emotions, self-mutilating and suicidal behaviours Argumentative, irritable, sarcastic, quick to take offence Often engage in suicidal or self-mutilating behaviours Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 33 11  Cluster B Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Early conception: borderline between neurosis and schizophrenia One of the most common PD in clinical settings More common in women than in men Typically begins in early adulthood Comorbid with mood disorder, substance abuse, PTSD, eating disorders, and Cluster A PDs Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 34 Cluster B Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Causes Still largely unknown Runs in families; Twin studies – Genetics Poor functions of frontal lobes – impulsive behaviour o Perform poor on neurological tests of frontal lobe functioning; low glucose metabolism in the frontal lobes Increased and prolonged activation in the amygdala Early trauma and biological predisposition Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 35 Cluster B Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Causes Linehan’s diathesis stress theory Marsha Linehan - Two important factors- dysregulation and invalidation When people with a biological diathesis for having difficulty controlling their emotions are raised in family environment that is invalidating, extreme form – abuse  BPD (Flett et al., 2017) Copyright © 2017 By John Wiley and Sons 36 12  Cluster B Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Few studies on the effectiveness of therapies Antipsychotic and antidepressants, lithium Treatments similar to those with PTSD Couples therapy for some Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) ◦ Effective in reducing suicide attempts Copyright © 2024 by Cengage Learning 37 References Barlow, D.H., Durand, V.M., Hofmann, S.G., & Lalumière, M.L. (2021). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (6th Cdn. ed.). Cengage Learning. Flett, G. L., Nancy, L. K., Davidson, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2017). Abnormal psychology. (6th Cdn. ed.). Wiley 38 13