Transcript What is a personality disorder - UBC Psychology`s Research Labs

Psychology 305A:
Personality Psychology
September 17
Lecture 4
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Reminders
1. The peer mentors (Austin, Gordon) will hold a tutorial
on Thursday:
When? 5:30-6:30
Where? Kenny 2101
2. I will hold optional review sessions for Chapter 2
(research methods) on Thursday:
When? 12:30-1:30 and 4:30-5:30
Where? Kenny 2101
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A little R&R ….
(Review and Reflect)
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The Trait Perspective and Personality Disorders
1. Has a comprehensive taxonomy of personality traits
been developed? (continued)
2. Do personalities change across the lifespan?
3. What is a personality disorder?
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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:
1. assess your scores on the five factor taxonomy.
2. identify correlates of the five factor taxonomy.
3. discuss criticisms of the five factor taxonomy.
4. review research regarding personality stability vs.
change across the lifespan.
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5. describe the general features of personality disorders.
6. distinguish between the “clusters” of personality
disorders.
7. review the primary symptoms of schizoid and antisocial
personality disorders.
8. distinguish between antisocial personality disorder and
psychopathy.
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Has a comprehensive taxonomy of personality traits been
developed? (continued)
• Trait psychologists typically assess the 5 superordinate
traits of the five factor taxonomy using structured
self-report questionnaires:
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BFT: Big Five Test
X = Mean
SD = Standard deviation
25%ile and below = Low scores
75%ile and above = High scores
Score 1: Openness to Experience (F=M*)
Females
Males
X = 19.4
X = 20.3
SD = 2.9
SD = 2.8
25%ile = 18
25%ile = 18
75%ile = 21
75%ile = 22
25%ile = 19
25%ile = 17
75%ile = 23
75%ile = 21
Score 2: Conscientiousness (F>M*)
Females
Males
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X = 20.2
X = 18.8
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SD = 3.2
SD = 3.3
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Score 3: Extraversion (F>M*)
Females
Males
X = 19.9
X = 18.0
SD = 3.5
SD = 3.5
25%ile = 17
25%ile = 16
75%ile = 22
75%ile = 22
25%ile = 21
25%ile = 17
75%ile = 24
75%ile = 21
25%ile = 16
25%ile = 13
75%ile = 22
75%ile = 20
Score 4: Agreeableness (F>M*)
Females
Males
X = 22.2
X = 18.8
SD = 2.6
SD = 3.3
Score 5: Neuroticism (F>M*)
Females
Males
X = 18.5
X = 16.3
SD = 4.4
SD = 4.9
*Schmitt, Realo, Voracek, & Allik (2008)
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• In general, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion,
and agreeableness are associated with positive
outcomes.
Neuroticism is associated with negative outcomes.
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• Examples:
 Openness, extraversion: More positive life events.
 Conscientiousness: Greater physical health and longer
lifespan.
 Agreeableness: Lower levels of depression.
 Neuroticism: Poorer physical health and shorter
lifespan.
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Do personalities change across the lifespan?
• Two findings have emerged from studies that have
assessed the five factor taxonomy across the lifespan:
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(a) In general, mean scores on:
 conscientiousness and agreeableness increase.
 extraversion and neuroticism decrease.
 openness remains stable.
 this pattern holds across cultures (e.g., Britain,
Germany, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Turkey; McCrae et
al, 2000).
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(b) In general, rank order ratings (i.e., rank order position)
remains stable.
Name
Agreeableness
Score at 10
Agreeableness
Score at 30
Joan
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40
Daniel
40
60
Michael
60
80
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What is a personality disorder (PD)?
• According to the DSM V, a PD is:
1. An enduring pattern of inner experience and
behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations
of one’s culture. Manifest in 2 or more of the following:
Cognition, affect, interpersonal functioning, impulse
control.
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2. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive
across a broad range of personal and social situations.
3. The enduring pattern leads to clinically significant
distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning.
4. The enduring pattern is stable and of long duration,
and its onset can be traced back to adolescence or
early adulthood.
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• The DSM-V identifies 10 personality disorders organized
in 3 clusters:
 Cluster A: The eccentric cluster, social awkwardness,
engage in odd or eccentric behaviour.
 Cluster B: The erratic cluster, demonstrate reduced
emotional control.
 Cluster C: The anxious cluster, engage in anxietyavoiding behaviour.
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• Examples:
1. Schizoid PD:
 A pervasive pattern of detachment from social
relationships and a restricted range of expression of
emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early
adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.
Manifest in 4 or more of the following:
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 Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including
being part of a family.
 Almost always chooses solitary activities.
 Has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences
with another person.
 Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities.
 Lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree
relatives.
 Appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others.
 Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened
affectivity.
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Case study:
As an undergraduate, Roger volunteered in the lab of one of his
professors. He was responsible, showing up on time and doing the
work he was given. However, he seemed detached from the work,
never getting too excited or appearing to be even interested, though
he volunteered to work for several semesters. Roger often worked
in the lab at night. On several occasions, graduate students
complained that Roger “stared” at them from the hallway and is
“spooky.” Roger lived with his younger brother. The brother
handled most of the daily chores. Roger spent most of his time
studying and reading. In class, he never spoke to classmates.
Outside of class, he did not socialize with friends, nor did he
participate in any extracurricular activities. After graduating, Roger
returned to live with his parents, in a room above their garage; he
has been living there for the past 15 years. Every few years, Roger
e-mails his professor to update him on his life. When his professor
attempts to reply, he receives a message that the e-mail address is
no longer available. Roger changes his e-mail address to avoid
further correspondence.
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 Prevalence: 3.1%-4.9% (Grant et al., 2004; Lenzenweger
et al., 2007).
 Increased prevalence in the relatives of individuals with
schizophrenia.
 M>F, may associated with greater impairment among
males.
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2. Antisocial PD:
 A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of
the rights of others, occurring since 15, as indicated
by 3 or more of the following:
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 Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful
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behaviors, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that
are grounds for arrest.
Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of
aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated
physical fights or assaults.
Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.
Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated
failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor
financial obligations.
Indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or
stolen from another.
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Case study:
Ms. R was referred to a therapist as part of a rehabilitation program.
She is serving time in prison for fraud. She perpetrated a scam that
involved hundreds of victims. Many of her victims lost their life
savings and suffered grievous and life-threatening stress symptoms.
She is annoyed that she must attend therapy but tries to hide her
displeasure by claiming to be eager to “heal and reform herself.”
When ask how she felt that three of her victims died of heart attacks
as a result of her misdeeds, she barely suppresses an urge to laugh
out loud and then denies any responsibility. Her “clients” were adults
who knew what they were doing; had the scam worked, they would
have all become “filthy rich.” As she discusses her life history with
the therapist, she confesses that she began stealing at the age of 9,
has had countless extramarital affairs, and has frequent conflict with
her daughter. The most recent conflict resulted in her daughter’s
suicide attempt.
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 Diagnosis requires evidence of conduct disorder
before 15.
 Prevalence: 0.2% and 3.3% (Goldstein et al., 2007;
Lenzenweger et al., 2007; Torgersen et al., 2001).
 Increased prevalence in the relatives of individuals with
antisocial PD; interaction with environmental factors.
 M>F.
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 Antisocial PD vs. psychopathy:
 Behavioural features: Parasitic lifestyle, poor
behavioural control, promiscuous sexual behaviour,
early behaviour problems, lack of realistic long-term
goals, impulsivity, irresponsibility, failure to accept
responsibility for actions, juvenile delinquency, criminal
versatility.
 Affective/interpersonal features: Glibness/superficial
charm, grandiose sense of self-worth, need for
stimulation/proneness to boredom, pathological lying,
manipulative, lack of remorse or guilt, shallow affect,
callous/lack of empathy.
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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:
1. assess your scores on the five factor taxonomy.
2. identify correlates of the five factor taxonomy.
3. discuss criticisms of the five factor taxonomy.
4. review research regarding personality stability vs.
change across the lifespan.
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5. describe the general features of personality disorders.
6. distinguish between the “clusters” of personality
disorders.
7. review the primary symptoms of schizoid and antisocial
personality disorders.
8. distinguish between antisocial personality disorder and
psychopathy.
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