Week 8 - Personality

Question 1

Define personality

Answer 1

Characteristics and behaviour, major traits and values

Question 2

Define character

Answer 2

Moral worth and responsibility

Question 3

Define temperament (give examples)

Answer 3

Foundation of personality, biologically determined, present early in life.

Examples: emotional responsiveness or mood

Question 4

What is a personality disorder?

Answer 4

Pattern of behaviour that deviates markedly from cultural norms.

Onset in adolescence/early adulthood.

Leads to:
- Functional impairment (personal, occupational, interpersonal)
- Subjective distress

Question 5

What are the 6 major approaches to personality?

Answer 5

1. psychodynamic
2. phenomenological (unique experiences)
3. biological
4. behavioural
5. social-cognitive
6. trait theory (characteristics eg. Eysenck)

Question 6

What is trait theory and Eysenck’s 3 factor model?

Answer 6

Trait theory: traits are personality characteristics that determine behaviour
1. extraversion/introversion
2. neuroticism/emotional stability
3. psychoticism/socialisation
Use EPQ-R (Eysenck’s Personaliy Questionnaire-Revised)

Question 7

What are two approaches to classifying personality disorders?

Answer 7

• DSM-5: categorical
• ICD-11: dimensional

Question 8

What are the 10 types of personality disorders (DSM-5)

Answer 8

Eccentric Behaviour:
1. Paranoid PD (distrust, suspiciousness)
2. Schizoid PD (social and emotional detachment)
3. Schizotypal PD (discomfort in close relationships)
Erratic Behaviour:
4. Antisocial PD (disregard for rights of others)
5. Borderline PD (unstable relationships)
6. Histrionic PD (excessive emotionality, attention seeking)
7. Narcissistic (inflated grandiosity)
Anxious Behaviour:
8. Avoidant PD: social inhibition
9. Dependent PD: clinging behaviour
10. Obsessive-Compulsive PD: preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and control.

Question 9

What are the five domains describing personality disorders (ICD-11)?

Answer 9

Dysfunction rated as mild, moderate, severe.
1. Negative affectivity (low mood)
2. Detachment (socially, emotionally)
3. Dissociability (self-centred)
4. Disinhibition (impulsive)
5. Anankastia (critical, perfectionist)

Question 10

What is the DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD)?

Answer 10

Pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, and marked impulsivity.

Question 11

What are two risk factors for developing BPD?

Answer 11

1. genetics
2. adverse childhood experiences (abuse, maltreatment, familial psychiatric history)

Question 12

What is the PAI?

Answer 12

• Personality Assessment Inventory.
• Self-report test for personality and psychopathology.

Question 13

What are the psychological assessment components (steps) for personality assessment?

Answer 13

1. referral
2. info gathering
3. case formulation
4. report

Question 14

What are the four components within the PAI?

Answer 14

There are 22 scales
1. 4 validity
2. 11 clinical
3. 5 treatment
4. 2 interpersonal

Question 15

What is the first typology of personality?

Answer 15

Galen of Pergamum.

4 basic humours linked to illness.

4 Temperaments:
1. melancholic: sad, black bile
2. choleric: quick-tempered, yellow bile
3. sanguine: cheerful, blood
4. phlegmatic: calm, phlegm