PSYCH257 Lecture 12: Personality Disorders

15 views6 pages
PSYCH 247 - Chapter 12 - Personality Disorders
Overview
â—Ź personality disorder: persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behaviour that
results in enduring emotional distress for the person affected
- also cause difficulties for others, with work, and relationships
â—Ź distress the affected person, but ind. with personality disorders may not feel subjective
distress, but acutely felt by others
â—Ź certain cases = someone other than the person with personality disorder must decide
whether disorder is causing significant functional impairment
Categorical and Dimensional Models
â—Ź problems of people with personality disorders = extreme versions of the problems many
of us experience on a temp. basis
â—Ź distinction b/w problems of degree and kind = described in terms of dimensions and
categories
- issue whether personality disorders are extreme versions of typical personality
variations (dimensions) or ways of relating that are diff. (categories)
â—Ź more accepted models: Big Five/five-factor model of personality
- extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness
Personality Disorder Clusters
â—Ź three clusters:
- Cluster A: “odd”, eccentric cluster (paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal
personality disorders)
- Cluster B: “dramatic”, emotional or erratic cluster (antisocial, borderline,
histrionic, and narcissistic), characterized by elevated impulsivity
- Cluster C: anxious, fearful (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive
personality)
Gender Differences
â—Ź men diagnosed with personality disorder: display traits characterized as more
aggressive, structured, self-assertive, and detached
â—Ź women = present more submissive, emotional, and insecure
â—Ź antisocial personality present more often in males and dependent personality present
more in females
Comorbidity
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-2 of the document.
Unlock all 6 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in
â—Ź major concern with diagnosing personality disorders = tend to be diagnosed with more
than one
- ex; person identified with borderline personality has a 32% likelihood of also
having paranoid personality disorder
Cluster A Disorders
Paranoid Personality Disorder
â—Ź excessively mistruful and suspicious of others without any justification
â—Ź assume other people are out to harm/trick them, tend not to confide in others
â—Ź clinical description:
- defining characteristic: pervasive unjustified distrust
- ex; viewing a neighbour’s barking dog as a deliberate attempt to annoy them
- makes meaningful rls. very difficult, hostile towards others, sensitive to criticism,
excessive need for autonomy
- this disorder increases risk of suicide attempts and violent behaviour, related to
having poor overall quality of life
â—Ź causes:
- genetics = strong role, some point to childhood experiences
â—Ź treatment:
- establishing a meaningful therapeutic alliance becomes an important first step
- trigger to seek help = not their disorder, but feelings of anxiety/depression in life
Schizoid Personality Disorder
â—Ź detachment from social relationships and a very limited range of emotions in
interpersonal situations
â—Ź aloof, cold, indifferent to other people
â—Ź clinical description:
- seem neither to desire nor enjoy closeness with others
- homelessness = appear to be prevalent
- social deficiencies similar to those with paranoid personality disorders,but
deficiencies are extreme for schizoid
â—Ź causes:
- childhood shyness = precursor to later adult schizoid personality
- biological causes: lower density of dopamine may contribute to social aloofness
â—Ź treatment:
- therapists often begin treatment by pointing out value of social relationships
- often receive social skills training
- role-playing
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-2 of the document.
Unlock all 6 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in

Document Summary

Psych 247 - chapter 12 - personality disorders. Personality disorder: persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behaviour that results in enduring emotional distress for the person affected. Also cause difficulties for others, with work, and relationships. Distress the affected person, but ind. with personality disorders may not feel subjective distress, but acutely felt by others. Certain cases = someone other than the person with personality disorder must decide whether disorder is causing significant functional impairment. Problems of people with personality disorders = extreme versions of the problems many of us experience on a temp. basis. Distinction b/w problems of degree and kind = described in terms of dimensions and categories issue whether personality disorders are extreme versions of typical personality variations (dimensions) or ways of relating that are diff. (categories) More accepted models: big five/five-factor model of personality. Cluster a: odd , eccentric cluster (paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders)

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents