Part I: Personality Disorders

Part I: Personality Disorders

This video does a great job in describing and explaining Personality Disorders in about 10 minutes! Watch the following video on Personality Disorders, and then answer the quesitons below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E1JiDFxFGkLinks to an external site.

What is meant by “Personality?” Please give a thorough answer
What is meant by “ego dystonic?”
Who was an early researcher who began the modern work on classification of these disorders as mentioned in the video?
What is meant by a personality “disorder?” What are the characteristics described in the video and why are these a “disorder?”
What are the 3 clusters of personality disorders? Describe these cluster and then name and describe specific personality disorders in each cluster.
What are other personality disorders mentioned and what symptoms characterize these disorders?
What do you think causes these personality disorders? Please mention information from the video.
Which personality disorder seems most dangerous or maladaptive? Why?
What is the findings on the genetic compoent AND neurological characteristics in those with psychopathic personaltiy features in antisocial personality disorder?
What does “ego syntonic” mean and mentioned in the video?
Do you suspect anyone you know as having one of these disorders? What symptoms to they display?
Part II: TEST YOURSELF (This is NOT a diagnosis–it’s merely identification of some behavioral, cognitive, or emotional similarities)

For some reason, this link does not work which is too bad because it was interesting….Maybe in the future, it will work again so I will keep it here for now: http://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mvLinks to an external site.

For this part of the assignment, I want you to take a few assessments. Remember, these are not official diagnoses of any kind. This will just pick up patterns and recognize POSSIBLE symptoms. Click on the following link relating to a “mental illness test”:

https://www.thecalculator.co/personality/Personality-Disorder-Test-440.htmlLinks to an external site.

Take each of the following: the Mental Illness Test, Antisocial Personality Disorder test, the Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder test, and the Borderline Personality Disorder test. You will see the kinds of questions that are asked for these assessments.

After you are finished, answer the questions below:

Remember, online quizzes are not professional diagnoses. This test only identifies POSSIBLE signs, and is NOT indicative of an actual disorder.

What were your results?
Do the results make sense to you? In other words, was it a surprise to you?
In what ways do you think you could improve the functioning of your personality?
Do you think personality is a behavioral choice? Think about this question carefully before responding.
Lastly (although this is not part of the assignment), for more information on personality disorders, the following website is quite useful (there’s lots of information on the personality disorders, signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors, etc.) : http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/personality-disorders/DS00562Links to an external site.

Personality Disorders: Understanding the Clusters and Causes

Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate significantly from cultural norms. These disorders typically emerge in adolescence or early adulthood and remain stable over time, causing significant distress or impairment in various aspects of an individual’s life (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This essay explores the concept of personality, the characteristics of personality disorders, their classification into clusters, and the potential causes of these disorders.

Understanding Personality
Personality refers to the unique set of traits, behaviors, and patterns of thinking that define an individual and remain relatively consistent across situations and over time (Widiger & Costa, 2013). It encompasses the way a person perceives, relates to, and interacts with their environment and others. Personality is shaped by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors (Torgersen, 2018).

Characteristics of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are characterized by rigid, inflexible, and maladaptive patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion that deviate markedly from cultural expectations (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These patterns are pervasive and stable, causing significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Individuals with personality disorders often have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, regulating emotions, and adapting to change (Hopwood et al., 2018).

Clusters of Personality Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) organizes personality disorders into three clusters based on descriptive similarities (American Psychiatric Association, 2013):

1. Cluster A (Odd or Eccentric Disorders):
– Paranoid Personality Disorder: Characterized by pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others.
– Schizoid Personality Disorder: Marked by detachment from social relationships and restricted emotional expression.
– Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Exhibits eccentric behavior, cognitive distortions, and interpersonal difficulties.

2. Cluster B (Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Disorders):
– Antisocial Personality Disorder: Characterized by a disregard for and violation of others’ rights.
– Borderline Personality Disorder: Marked by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect.
– Histrionic Personality Disorder: Exhibits excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.
– Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Characterized by grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

3. Cluster C (Anxious or Fearful Disorders):
– Avoidant Personality Disorder: Marked by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism.
– Dependent Personality Disorder: Exhibits a pervasive and excessive need to be cared for, leading to submissive and clinging behavior.
– Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Characterized by preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

Causes of Personality Disorders
The exact causes of personality disorders remain unclear, but research suggests a complex interplay of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors (Torgersen, 2018). Studies have found that certain personality disorders, such as borderline and antisocial personality disorders, have a significant genetic component and are associated with specific neurological characteristics (Amad et al., 2019; Gunter et al., 2019). Adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or inconsistent parenting, have also been linked to the development of personality disorders (Hengartner et al., 2019).

Conclusion
Personality disorders are complex mental health conditions that cause significant distress and impairment in various aspects of an individual’s life. Understanding the clusters of personality disorders and their potential causes is crucial for effective diagnosis, treatment, and support. While the exact causes remain unclear, ongoing research continues to shed light on the genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors that contribute to the development of these disorders. By increasing awareness and understanding of personality disorders, we can work towards improving the lives of those affected and promoting mental health and well-being.

References
Amad, A., Ramoz, N., Thomas, P., Jardri, R., & Gorwood, P. (2019). Genetics of borderline personality disorder: Systematic review and proposal of an integrative model. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 103, 85-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.021

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Gunter, T. D., Chibnall, J. T., Antoniak, S. K., McCormick, B., & Black, D. W. (2019). Antisocial personality disorder and the five-factor model. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 10(3), 284-288. https://doi.org/10.1037/per0000322

Hengartner, M. P., Ajdacic-Gross, V., Rodgers, S., Müller, M., Wyss, C., Angst, J., & Rössler, W. (2019). Childhood adversity and personality disorders in a nationally representative sample of preschool teachers. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10(1), 1653626. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1653626

Hopwood, C. J., Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Watson, D., Widiger, T. A., Althoff, R. R., Ansell, E. B., Bach, B., Bagby, R. M., Blais, M. A., Bornovalova, M. A., Caspi, A., Cicero, D. C., Conway, C. C., De Clercq, B., De Fruyt, F., Docherty, A. R., Eaton, N. R., Edens, J. F., . . . Zimmermann, J. (2018). The time has come for dimensional personality disorder diagnosis. Personality and Mental Health, 12(1), 82-86. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmh.1408

Torgersen, S. (2018). Epidemiology. In W. J. Livesley & R. Larstone (Eds.), Handbook of personality disorders: Theory, research, and treatment (2nd ed., pp. 167-189). The Guilford Press.

Widiger, T. A., & Costa, P. T. (2013). Personality disorders and the five-factor model of personality (3rd ed.). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/13939-000

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Abnormal Behavior in Historical

What was your initial reaction to watching the video? What emotions did the video arouse in you?

-What information from the video stood out to you the most and why?

– In what way do you think the information presented in the video related to the concepts discussed in chapter 1?

– Did the video increase your understanding of how mental illness was viewed in the past? Did it change your perspective in any way yes, no, and why)?