Understanding Personality and Psychopathology in Clinical

School

Pennsylvania State University**We aren't endorsed by this school

Course

PSYCH 100

Subject

Psychology

Date

Dec 11, 2024

Pages

Uploaded by BaronPorpoise3313

UNIT 5 - Personality and Clinical PsychologyEmotion, personality, psychological disorders, and positive psychologyUnderstanding PsychopathologyPsychological disorder= mental disorder= psychopathology( all interchangeable)You might also see mental illness or abnormal psychology used to describe these conditions, not the bestClinical psychology- area that studies psychopathology and treatmentsDefining psychopathology:Harmful dysfunction model (Wakefield, 1992)oHarmful: causing negative consequences for an individual or others in their life (ex. Distress, relationship problems, inability tocare for self)oDysfunction: a psychological mechanism (ex. Thoughts feelings, behaviors, learning) no longer performs its helpful functions properlyMain criteria:oSignificant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, or behaviorsoThat reflect a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processoUsually associated with significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important activityRule out:oIs not a expectable or culturally appropriate response to a common stressor or lossoIs not just socially deviant behavior/conflicts between a person and society, unless caused by a dysfunctionDiagnosis & Classification:

Categorical vs. dimensional systemsA tricky balance:oUnderdiagnosis:Mental disorders are often stigmatizedEven if a diagnosis could lead to helpful treatments, it might not be sought or givenoOverdiagnosis:Common psychological problems are seen as symptoms of a disorderInattention, grief, impulsivity, perfectionism…Pros and Cons of Categorical classification:Alternative: Dimensional Systems of Psychopathology:Not yet recognized as an overall system for diagnosis, but supported by researchProblems seen as dimensions rather than strict categories, people can score at different levelsPersonalityWhat is it, how do we measure it?

Long standing traits describing how we tend to think, feel, andactConsistent patterns of how we relate to other people, ourselves and the worldWhere does it come from?Nature vs. nurtureoNature: research demonstrates reliable infanttemperaments, innate difference in personalityoNurture: Our culture, social interactions, and life experiences also shape our personality over timeThis is similar to Erikson's psychosocial model of developmentKey idea: personality is relatively stable, but still changes over timeTrait theories:Trait - characteristic way of behavingoSuch as… Friendly, shy, aggressive, happy, kind, annoying, etc. Trait theories describe personality based on how much a person expresses certain traits - dimensionaloPersonality psych is important in the idea of existing on aspectrumFive-factor modelFive main personality traits, or factors (OCEAN)Each factor/trait exists on a dimensionPersonality is described by levels across the five factors, leading to lots of individual expressionsoOpenness to experience

oConscientiousnessoExtroversion oAgreeablenessoNeuroticismProblems of personality/ Personality disordersKey idea: Everyone has a personality, and everyone will have problems withtheir personality. Some peoples’ problems are more consistent, long-lasting, and/or impairing than others.PDs can go away over timeHow they are diagnosed with the DSM-5oMostly recognizes categorical system:Tradition, symptom based model"An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior… inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations… distress and impairment"oSometimes dimensional though:Only recognized dimensional diagnostic system currently is The Alternative Model for PDs:Diagnosis based on:Level of personality functioningResearch-based pathological traits The Alternative Model: Level of Personality functioningSelf:a. Identityb. Self-direction

Interpersonally: with other peoplea. Empathyb. IntimacyMaladaptive traits:oBased on the Five factor model: Neuroticism >> negative affectivity (vs. emotional stability)Detachment (vs. extroversion)Antagonism (vs. agreeableness)Disinhibition (vs. conscientiousness)Openness>> Psychoticism (vs. Lucidity)