Personality Disorders: Understanding the Erratic and Eccentric - Prof. Jessica M. Barber, Study notes of Personality Psychology

Download Personality Disorders: Understanding the Erratic and Eccentric - Prof. Jessica M. Barber and more Study notes Personality Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! (PSYC309) Personality Psychology: Exam 3 Materials Chapter 19: Disorders of Personality A. The Concept of Disorder · Psychological disorder o Pattern of distressing/painful behavior or experience o Leads to dysfunction in important life domains o Associated with increased risk for further suffering, loss of function, death, or confinement B. What is Abnormal? · Statistical definition: Whatever is rare, infrequent · Social definition: Whatever society doesn't tolerate · Both definitions tied to (changing) norms · Personal, subjective experience matters · Psychopathology: Study of mental disorders · Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV): Widely accepted system for diagnosing and describing mental disorders C. Studying Personality Disorders · "manie sans delire" (madness without loss of mental capability) · "moral insanity" · "psychopathic personality" D. What is a Personality Disorder? · Enduring pattern of experience and behavior that differs greatly from societal/cultural expectations · Typically involves > 1 of the following: o Thoughts o Feelings o Interpersonal relationships o Impulse control · Behavior pattern is... o Long-lasting (emerges over time) o Rigid o Displayed across situationsr o Impairs function in key life areas (work, relationships) · Behavior must not be attributable to drug abuse, medication, or other medical condition E. Varieties of Personality Disorders · DSM-IV lists 10 personality disorders, characterized into 3 groups: o Erratic Group o Eccentric Group o Anxious Group F. Erratic Group · Person is erratic, emotional, has difficulties getting along with others o Antisocial: Lack of concern for norms, deceptive, impulsive, aggressive, lack of remorse