chapter 16 & 17 abnormal psychology
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What is a Personality Disorder First and foremost, you have no idea if someone has a PD unless you have an emotional relationship with them or you see the individual in extreme cases where the disorder is glaring at you; the Narcissist explodes in anger when he is rejected when he asks his girlfriend to marry him Character flaws that are permanently ingrained into a person’s personality You don’t have to have a PD to end up with a person with a Personality Disorder When emotionally attached to someone with a PD, it is extremely difficult to break it off Unconsciously, you expect the “other person” to be somewhere in there and don’t realize it was all an act to hook you. They are not aware they have a problemTRANSCRIPT
Chapter 16 & 17 Abnormal Psychology
Updated 8/14/14 What is a Personality Disorder
First and foremost, you have no idea if someone has a PD unless you
have an emotional relationship with them or you see the individual
in extreme cases where the disorder is glaring at you; the
Narcissist explodes in anger when he is rejected when he asks his
girlfriend to marry him Character flaws that are permanently
ingrained into a persons personality You dont have to have a PD to
end up with a person with a Personality Disorder When emotionally
attached to someone with a PD, it is extremely difficult to break
it off Unconsciously, you expect the other person to be somewhere
in there and dont realize it was all an act to hook you. They are
not aware they have a problem What Causes P.D.s Predisposed to the
Disorder
Inability to bond with the mother Humans mirror their mothers when
the are infants.If mom doesnt or cant bond with the child, that
child stops maturing emotionally. Because the infant mirrors mom,
whatever bad traits she has will be put on the child.So a
Borderline mother has borderline children Think of people with
personality disorders (depending on the disorder) as a 3 to 6 year
old child in an adults body. The opposite of a Personality
Disorder
Being self-actualized Only occurs when a person works at becoming
self-actualized Takes years to get there and you have to want to be
there Most adults stop maturing when they dont have to grow up Many
adults have the maturity of a teenager and will regress to behaving
that way when they are under duress Ms. Libbon is an example of
someone I would think is Self-actualized Self Actualized Think of
the Dalai Lama.
An individual who has actualized the full potential of the self. To
become everything that one is capable of becoming They embrace
reality and facts rather than denying truth. They can accept their
own human nature in the stoic style, with all its shortcomings,
they accept others for who they are (they dont have to like them,
and they generally lack prejudice. Bottom line they dont stress
when its not needed, they focus on problem solving and they accept
people the way they are Neurotic Neurotic is (in a sense) the
opposite of a personality disorder, but can still cause problems
for individuals They / we worry about things they /we have no
control over Most everyone who isnt character disordered, is
neurotic in some way Example; you are neurotic when everyone around
you who knows the situation tells you there is nothing to worry
about, yet you still worry and later learn that there really was
nothing to worry about. Youre first day of school and you come in
late to class and are terrified about everyone staring at you.The
reality is no one cares that you were late, and the only people
staring at you are those that find you attractive The Neurotic They
could be easy going or take be a little hard to deal with. If they
are too neurotic, they may have issues which may hinder how
effective they can be at their job, how people view them as team
members. Someone who is very neurotic can be obsessed about
screwing up, so much they actually do screw up (choking is being
neurotic). They can be insecure, which happens when they take too
much responsibility for their behavior and also feel they are
incompetent at managing themselves. This puts them into a bind
which is self-generated and can consume them with worry.
Excessively neurotic people are distracted by worry, which is
bothering them constantly. Personality Disorder Personality
disorders cause serious
problems with relationships and work. They are stable traits not
single episodes. Many people with personality disorders are high
functioning and they can be very successful in life (think Charley
Sheen). Most people with these disorders lead unhappy lives and
also disrupt those close to them They can literally ruin other
peoples lives and you want to STAY AWAY FROM THEM! More Personality
Disorder
They dont see that they have serious problems because they lack
insight they cant understand that they have obvious problems Very
difficult to treat they dont change No matter what happens to them,
its always because of outside influences and they never take
reasonability of anything negative that happens around or to them.
You can tell them point blank that behavior a certain behavior will
cause them problems, and they will ignore that information and come
right back and complain about how it was someone else's fault. How
they might develop As a child, they experience intense horrible
feelings (fear, rage, out of control) and their psyches cant handle
them and they develop defense mechanisms that become ingrained in
their psychological makeup. They have a genetic predisposition that
gets triggered, They learn it from those around them They get
rewarded for that kind of behavior(think child stars that go crazy)
Neurotic versus Personality Disorder
The Neurotic says Its my fault and the Personality Disorder says
Its your fault The neurotic takes too much responsibility for
problems and try to fix them (co-dependant), While the P.D. will
consciously or unconsciously blame others for their situations and
with the world would stop screwing with them. Rules dont apply to
them Codependent A person who is enmeshed in a dysfunctional
relationship and is usually an enabler which detracts from their
lives. EX: If I cared for a sick brother who was a drug addict and
kept making excuses for him to not change.. A person is called
codependent when they put up with a persons bad behavior and / or
act in excessive caretakingways that have a negative impact on
their life. A wife that puts up with her husbands drinking A parent
who is constantly making excuses for their kids behavior. How to
tell if you know a P.D.
Many of these people lead normal lives and you wont notice them
until you have a relationship with them (get to know them). They
will blame outside influences for issues with their behavior,
including other people. These people cannot be trusted they will
turn on you. This is because they blame outside forces for their
problems. Ive dealt with these people while interning they can be
very affable if they cant control you until they want something
from you or you block them from getting what they want My
experience with them
I was surprised that when I diagnosed them, it didnt bother them at
all One 25-year old Anti-social said you nailed it, that is me A
26-year old admitted that she had already been diagnosed as a
Borderline. A narcissist just said OK, I see that. They dont change
but the Borderline can grow out of some aspects of it, and some can
experience some relief. The Different Personality Disorders
How to recognize, how they feel, how they might be caused and how
they are treated (if possible) A very productive person with many
personality disorders.
As I was growing up, this performer was probably the most famous
person on the planet! The result of Personality Disorders
High functioning individual who was tormented with personality
disorders What might have been displayed
No one knows for sure except for doctors closest to him, but a
Google search will give you these maybes based on the behaviors
seen in public Avoidant(surgical masks) Borderline (Empty and
depressed) Delusional (saw the thing differently that everyone
else) Obsessive compulsive (many, many surgeries) Narcissistic
(self-loathing behaviors) Character Disordered / Personality
Disorder
Assumes too little responsibility with regard to relating to the
world around them A personality Disorder is a permanent pattern of
a world view and behavior that is a great deal different than the
expectations of their culture. They never change or adapt, and
usually starts to show itself in the early twenties. Some cant
function while others are said to be high functioning and can
seemingly live a very productive life Individuals first 6 months of
life
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT The child and the world are one there is no
difference or boundary separating the two Strong ties between
parents and their child provide the baby's first model for close
relationships and foster a sense of security and positive
self-esteem Parents' responsiveness to an infant's signals can
affect the child's social and cognitive development. The mother and
child start bonding immediately according to the latest research. A
bonding hormone is produced in the hypothalamus during childbirth
breast-feeding First 18 months Bonding with mom is critical no
bonding means the child will most probably end up with some
personality / social disorder ranging from a Sociopath to a
Borderline for example Narcissistic defensive mechanisms develop
during this time Very important programming time in an individuals
life Sets up their whole make-up and personality in life Genetics
also plays a huge roll in this development An individual can have a
pre-disposition for a certain disorder but the environment has to
kick-start it for it to develop At 6 months Now there is no
difference (in the childs experience) between the child and the
primary care-giver The child will mirror the experiences of the
PCG.If that person experiences psychological pain, so will the
child This is when the childs psychological make-up becomes
programmed for life (supposedly) much like programming a computer
for the first time except it is hard to re-program after its
already set up. 1st two-years of life Whatever the primary
caregivers problems are, they can be passed on to the child at this
stage in the programming of their personalities. If PCG is
self-actualized the child will be programmed to develop into a
self-actualized person. If the PCG is a raging alcoholic, this can
also program the child to develop this disorder With Borderline
mothers, the chances that they will raise a BPD child increase a
great deal. But because there are so many other variables, this
doesnt have to happen. People can be raised by dysfunctional PCGs
and still grow up to be a self-actualized individuals 1st 5-years
of life Your brain learns and changes more than at any other time
in your life It physically changes (more folds are created) in a
very deliberate way in fact, the folds can dictate whether you have
mental difficulties or not. Basically your first five years of life
have an enormous impact on your development as a human being Normal
Person under stress Personality Disordered under stress What does
Psychotic mean?
Breaking from reality; the inability to perceive reality accurately
a "loss of contact with reality. People suffering from psychosis
are said to be psychotic. They may think things are happening that
really are not happening like people are after them or someone
wants them dead. If someone says to you they are coming to get me
and there is no evidence that this is happening, they are said to
be experiencing a psychotic break. Delusional Having a believe
about something despite indisputable evidence to the contrary EX:
Im going to play professional football next season for the San
Diego Chargers I am 50-years old and I have a metal hip major hip
surgery I have arthritis and can barely walk in the morning I
believe I am going to play in the NFL even though there is
indisputable evidence telling me that is impossible For this class,
there is a distinction between Psychotic and Delusional Psychotic
is a serious mental illness, and many people can be delusional.A
parent believes their son will earn a full football scholarship
even though he is not very athletic the parent is delusional What
is Splitting mean?
Seeing someone as all good or all bad. When you are a little kid
and you get mad at someone you think they are a bad person for a
little while then you get over it. A Borderline will idolize a
person one day and then hate them the next the person is either all
good or all bad This happens to people that they have an emotional
investment in like a boss, boyfriend / girlfriend, a relative or
even a friend. Magical thinking A symptom of some PDs:When a person
thinks that they can affect the physical world or alter it in some
way. Magical thinking is a common phase in child development. Up
until early school age children will often link the outside world
with their internal consciousness, e.g. "It is raining because I am
sad". Occurs in people with OCD, Clinical Depression, Schizotypal
PD, Borderline PD. It is unlike superstitions or culture based
Prayer for example; meaning that if you believe in Prayer, you are
not thinking magically. Personality Disorders
If you think you have one and it bothers you that is proof that
your dont; one of the things about people with PDs is that they
cannot detect the PD in themselves.A professional has to tell them
they have the PD and eventually they need to believe it.
Personality that is maladaptive to change and a variety of ways
they are stuck Characteristic ways of thinking, feeling and
behaving You are stuck in a 9 feeling all the time we can have
extreme emotions 7 or 8 but they come back down personality
disordered people are stuck at high levels of emotion they have the
same traits normal people do but they are always high on the scale
Personality Disorders
Avoidant Personality Disorder (They shy one) Schizoid Personality
Disorder (The loner) Histrionic Personality disorder (The center of
attention) Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Loves themselves?)
Borderline Personality Disorder (Chaotic relationships) Dependant
Personality Disorder (They need) Antisocial Personality Disorder
(They manipulate) Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (They
Obsess) Avoidant Personality Disorder
Shy & Inadequate Avoidant Personality Disorder
Extremely shy people they stand out when you see them because they
are so very shy Avoidant personality disordered individuals have a
lifelong pattern of feeling very shy, inadequate, and sensitive to
rejection Cause problems with work and relationships Only form
relationships with people that they believe will not reject them
(Pretty girl with loser guy) Avoidant PD Symptoms Cant stop
thinking about their own inadequacies,
Very easily hurt when criticized or disapproved of, Hold back too
much in intimate relationships They avoid activities or jobs that
involve contact with others Very shy in social situations because
they are afraid they will do something wrong Exaggerate potential
difficulties They see themselves as less than others APD Treatment
Antidepressants and psychotherapy as well as group therapy They can
improve with treatment Without help, they could end up alone and go
into total isolation Develop secondary issues like substance abuse
and develop a mood disorder Schizoid Personality Disorder
Extremely withdrawn person Keeps their head down, wont acknowledge
others are around My student (1st year teacher) would wait outside
the room, never make eye-contact and would go straight to his / her
seat and sit down. Behaved as if no one else was around never
turned around to get papers being passed up, Would not pass up her
/ his paper; just leave the exam on the desk Drive to school in the
back seat of a small car Earned a B in the class but NEVER
participated When playing killer ball would get hit and just
shuffle off to the side without showing emotion. Outgoing and
friendly Schizoid Personality Disorder (2)
Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities Does not desire or enjoy
close relationships, including family Almost always chooses
solitary activities Little or no interest in sexual experiences
with another person Lacks close relationships other than with
immediate relatives Indifferent to praise or criticism Shows
emotional coldness, detachment or flattened affect Exhibits little
observable change in mood Schizoid Personality Disorder (3)
These people avoid social activities and consistently shy away from
interaction with others. They are generally loners with a profound
inability to connect with others and form personal relationships.
To others, they may appear aloof, dull or humorless, and they're
often ignored in social settings. The show a flattened or
restricted range of emotions, and can appear indifferent to what's
going on around them. However, their inner life can be rife with a
deep emotional need, sensitivity and confusion about the world
around them. Possible Causes of Schizoid PD
Biologic theorists believe that chromosomal or nervous system
disorders are causes. Social theorists believe learned behavior
responses cause the disorders. Psychodynamic theorists use
deficiencies in ego development to explain causes. Histrionic
Personality Disorder The histrionic exaggerates their emotions
exponentially Histrionic PD They greatly exaggerate their emotions,
Drama queens,
They try to be attractive in order to seek attention They will
dress very provocatively to attract attention They NEED to be the
center of attention in group / social situations Histrionic
Personality (2)
Constantly seeking reassurance or approval Overly concerned with
physical appearance They believe that relationships are more
intimate than they actually are Low tolerance for frustration or
delayed gratification Rapidly shifting emotional states that seem
fake, They change opinions based on what others think Possible
Causes of HPD Genetics and the environment they grew up in seem to
shape this kind of disorder It seems more in women and come men
with feminine personality traits Some people are rewarded with this
type of behavior thinking actors or reality TV. It seems to be
passed down to their children Treatment Psychotherapy and some meds
are used such as anti depressants We are just looking at their
behaviors maybe its just an act?
The Narcissist We are just looking at their behaviors maybe its
just an act? How do they get that way? Theory #1: The individual
never connected to the primary care-giver so the child believes
that they are all bad (not even mommy loves me therefore I am
loathed by the world) and they blame themselves for not being able
to make that connection. The reality is that the PCG was severely
emotionally impaired and couldnt bond with the child The child must
bond symbiotically with the PCG and then separate in order to have
any chance of becoming a normal person Normal Child Development
Future Narcissist This is why the Narcissists Hates him or
herself:Imagine if God, Mom and every person on earth thought you
were garbage and not worth anything.That is how the Narcissists
feels deep down inside their unconscious they hate themselves and
never develop a self; so they have to make up a self that they
believe everyone else will like / love / envy because there is no
one really their without their narcissistic supply, they start
freaking out with more anxiety than any of us have ever experienced
and they have to do something (get someone to have sex with them
for example) to feel wanted Theory #2: They are made to feel
special by the primary care giver and believe they really are
special which wouldnt hurt them, except they are divestated when
they are not treated as special (because they are not special, just
normal) and they live miserable lives NARCISSTIC SUPPLY A term used
to name the person(s) who satisfy the Narcissists insatiable desire
for praise or to associate themselves with someone who they deem
great in the case of dependent narcissists The Narcissist wants
people to think they are very special Teenagers Teens score high on
narcissism for several reasons,
Very stressful time in their lives Uncertain about where they fit
in life so this is used as a Reaction Formation This is where many
of us adults have the most regrets when it comes do the end of our
lives because we treated others poorly due to our teenage
narcissism. Parents can contribute by protecting them from health
criticism If you want to screw a kid up for life, protect him and
spoil him during this time and they will probably never recover
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Main presentation is I am better than everyone but this is a
reaction formation They project thinking others are envious of them
They feel entitled this is also a teenager delusion Actors are more
likely to score high on narcissist inventories They are very
self-centered you should do this for me! They exploit others for
personal gain (they use people) They are always looking for a
better romantic partner Depressed, frustrated, angry and they have
impulse control issues Narcissists & their mates
Narcissists tend to go through a string of short-term relationships
that dont last long and are usually devoid of much intimacy (they
dont show themselves). Even when theyre in a relationship, they
always seem to be on the lookout for other partners and searching
for a better deal. Whether thats because of their heightened
sexuality or because they think multiple partners enhance their
self-image isnt entirely clear. Borderline women and Narcissistic
men do well together (relatively speaking) Research on
Narcissism
Normal narcissism peaks at about 15 or 17 and then steadily
declines as people get older they learn the reality principle.
Narcissists often try to make a good first impression; because of
strong social skills that make them appear charming Their empathy
if fake and used to take advantage of others When you talk to them,
they keep bringing the conversation back to themselves. Possible
Causes of Narcissistic PD
An oversensitive temperament at birth (genetics) Early childhood
ignored by the primary care-giver Reaction formation; they believe
that they are of no value to their care-givers, so they
over-compensate by becoming delusional and telling themselves they
are special (a defense mechanism) Severe emotional abuse in
childhood is also common Or.. Overindulgence and overvaluation by
parents (spoiled; my generation seems to do this with their kids)
Excessive admiration for perceived exceptional looks or talents by
adults: Great athlete OR Gorgeous girl Being praised without
balanced criticism because parent feels like they are not giving
enough Why is my generation like that?
Studies have shown that because we think we work too much we must
not be good parents we over-compensate and give our kids too much
attention. Our parents did it better than we did because someone
was always home and we cant do that. Since we are not around to
counsel and critique, we feel guilty without knowing it and over
compensate. We feel deep inside that we got more than we deserved
when we were younger so we apologize thorough our children and ruin
then making us feel even worse Our guilt forms kids that feel
entitled which actually hurts our intentions because we feel
inadequate as parents Bottom line since we cant be home and our
parents did such remarkable jobs we over-compensate for our
inadequacies and then hurts our kids. Who are famous
Narcissists
Many dictators, criminals and celebrities had or have narcissistic
personalities. Hitler and Stalin Alec Baldwin, Sharon Stone, Elvis
Presley, William Shatner, Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson have been
labeled as narcissists for their public behaviors, (according to
Wiki answers just think of their public personalities without
labeling them as narcissists none of them that I know of have been
proven to be narcissists. Differ from Anti social
They are a lot a like but a narcissist has much more access to a
variety of feelings and they dont usually show conduct disorders as
youths They also feel depressed where the anti social feels
entitled to things so they take them Lives vicariously through
their mate
Dependant Narcissist Kate Middleton IS NOT a DN but Im using her as
an example of a behavior that a DN would do for Narcissist Supply.
Lives vicariously through their mate Think of someone who marries
someone famous in order to become famous Professional Athletes
wives can be Dependant Narcissists and when their famous person is
no longer famous, they drop them because it lowers their self-value
Explaining the example
Princess Kate is from a middle class family whos mother and father
met while working for the airlines Princess Kate was a professional
photographer and did web page design according to Wikipedia and she
met the Prince William at University (the way they say in over the
pond) Princess Kate must Curtsy to everyone in the Royal Family
except when she is with her husband, and then it depends upon the
situation who is involved but there is a written hierarchy as to
where Princess Kate is on the list of importancy If she were a
Dependent Narcissist
She would be a narcissist who, rather than bragging about
themselves all the time and embellishing their accomplishments,
marries someone who is very important (in their minds or in the
real world) and lives vicariously through the other person. How to
tell if you are with a Dependent Narcissist? They constantly brag
about their Narcissistic Supplys achievements and wants to always
be associated with that person regardless if they are with them or
not Dependent Narcissist sometimes called Craving Narcissists
This person is a Narcissist in that they hate themselves or dont
have a self, but they marry someone that elevates their Self-Image
so they dont feel so horrible about themselves They want their
mates way too much and are paranoid they will lose them The will
brag about their mates within a minute of first meeting them They
are attractive to normal people because they put them on a
pedestaland there is nothing you can do wrong until you do Then
Splitting comes into play and they try to ruin their mates
reputation anyway they can It is a way to elevate their self-value
by belittling the person who rejected them Like 5-year olds Spouses
find that shortly after marriage, they discover that they are
married to someone with the emotional maturity of a 4 7-year old
adult They fail to distinguish themselves from external objects
(their spouse) They are who they are because of who they are
married / related to They will take a lot of demeaning (unlike
Narcissists) from their spouse in order to keep their Narcissistic
Supply Borderline Personality Disorder
Lindsay Lohan, Brandon Marshall and Megan Fox have all stated
publically they have battled Borderline Personality Disorder
sometimes it is confused with bi-polar disorder Chaotic
Relationships Borderlines will seek therapy
BPDs seek therapy because of their chaotic romantic relationships
which become VERY intense very quickly. The will fall in love very
quickly, then hate you the next day One day they will believe they
love you and the next they will know that the relationship will
never work (this is called splitting). They chase the relationship
and once the object of their affection returns the love, they
reject them. NOTE:While working with one BPD, I could predict
within days of her break-up / make-up cycle with a police officer.
Chameleons with severe mood swings
They will literally change their looks and their personalities to
fit into the love-objects world I dont mean to pick on her I
actually liked her in her comedy movies when she was a kid she
seemed like a innocent little kid who was exploited because of her
talent and looks.She has gone though a lot and I hope she pulls out
of it. Borderlines are on of the only personality disorders that
change for the better with time and she is still very young.That,
coupled with her child stardom contributed to her demise; Im told
she is intelligent, she is obviously attractive and she is
supposedly a talented actress and model who is having a rough patch
in her life right now, but she can pull out of it. Psychological
Pain Borderlines They have such continual intense emotions that
they cannot deal with them The crave love but then the possibility
of abandonment pushes their partner away. They might have had a
great weekend and the Non BPD feels like they are perfect for each
other and the BPD will start an argument Valentine's day The BPD is
so afraid of being abandoned that she sabotages the relationship
the day before so her boyfriend cannot disappoint her Then she acts
impulsively to mask the pain and makes things worse by making out
with some worthless pervert. Borderline Personality Disorder
The person will present with chaotic relationships breaking up and
getting back together very intense relationships. Pairs up well
with the Narcissist because they will chase him and feed his
narcissistic.However, as soon as their boyfriend / girlfriend
returns the love, they will run. Probably the best future as far as
getting over the disorder Fears abandonment chase run relationships
Impulsive self damaging suicidal Very promiscuous (some not all)
Splitting is common May also become psychotic at times People with
BPD are often bright, witty, funny, life of the party Borderline
Personality Disorder
Chameleons they have no sense of self- so they become what their
partner wants them to become unconsciously biker girl to choir girl
or whatever the partner looks for unconsciously Females with
Borderline can give off the vibe that they are very sexual even the
choir-girl borderline can give that unconscious impression Erratic
relationships stand out in this type of disorder on again, off
again relationships where you can time the break-up and the
get-back-together on a calendar Mothers are borderlines sexually
abused as children Marilyn Monrow Marilyn was said to be Borderline
and Bi-Polar
Had affairs with both JFK & RFK which is typical for BPD Killed
herself of was killed which makes perfect sense she either did it
because of her depression or someone else did it because she could
not be controlled or she was impulsive PossibleCauses of BPD
Chemical imbalances in the brain and other biological factors may
be involved, such as heredity. Childhood trauma, such as abuse and
neglect, have also been cited as possible causes. Mom was a
borderline and she mirrored her motheras well has have a
pre-disposition to the disorder 2000 2001 study Columbia University
and NY State
Showed that 1 in 5 young adults suffered from a Personality
disorder (20%) Half of young people (19 25) suffered some sort of
psychiatric condition The disorders include obsessive, anti-social
and paranoid behaviors that are not mere quirks but actually
interfere with ordinary functioning. The problems The deviation
must manifest itself pervasively as behavior that is inflexible,
maladaptive, or otherwise dysfunctional across a broad range of
personal and social situations (i.e., not being limited to one
specific "triggering" stimulus or situation). Cluster A (odd or
eccentric disorders)
Paranoid Personality Disorder characterized by irrational
suspicions and mistrust of others. Schizoid Personality Disorder
lack of interest in social relationships, seeing no point in
sharing time with others Schizotypal Personality Disorder
characterized by odd behavior or thinking. Cluster B (dramatic,
emotional or erratic disorders)
Anti social Personality Disorder:a pervasive disregard for the law
and the rights of others. Borderline Personality Disorder:
Extreme"black and white" thinking, instability in relationships,
self-image, identity and behavior often leading to self-harm and
impulsivity. Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed in 3
times as many females as males Histrionic Personality
DisorderAttention Seeking Behavior: inappropriately seductive
behavior and shallow or exaggerated emotions. Narcissistic
Personality Disorder :a pervasive pattern of grandiosity and the
need for admiration and a lack of empathy. Cluster C (anxious or
fearful Disorders
Avoidant Personality Disorder social inhibition, feelings of
inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation and
avoidance of social interaction. Dependant Personality Disorder
pervasive psychological dependence on other people.
Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder (not the same as
obsessive-compulsive disorder: characterized by rigid conformity to
rules, moral codes and excessive orderliness. OCPD obsessive
compulsive personality disorder.
About 8 percent of young adults in both groups had this illness,
which can include an extreme preoccupation with details, rules,
orderliness and perfectionism. 12% in college kids All good
students have a touch of "obsessional" personality that helps them
work hard to achieve. But that's different from an obsessional
disorder that makes people inflexible and controlling and
interferes with their lives, he explained. OCD versus OCPD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality
Disorder are related but not identical diagnoses. OCD is considered
an "Axis I" diagnosis while OCPD is an "Axis II" diagnosis. Axis I
disorders are generally ones that come on in early adulthood or
later, Axis II disorders (Personality disorders and Developmental
Disorders) are generally present from a fairly early age. OCD is an
anxiety disorder characterized by either Obsessions (intrusive,
repetitive thoughts that won't leave the mind and that cause great
anxiety) or Compulsions (repetitive behaviors that are designed to
reduce anxiety brought on by obsessions). OCPD, on the other hand,
is a personality style characterized by a preoccupation with
"orderliness, perfectionism and mental and interpersonal control at
the expense of flexibility, openness and efficiency" (DSM IV). The
two disorders can occur separately, or they can co-occur. People
with OCD are not necessarily perfectionists, but they can be. There
is evidence that the individual's characteristic and enduring
patterns of inner experience and behavior as a whole deviate
markedly from the culturally expected and accepted norms.Such
deviation must be manifest in two or more of the following areas:
1) cognition (i.e., ways of perceiving and interpreting things,
people, and events; forming attitudes and images of self and
others); 2)affectivity (range, intensity, and appropriateness of
emotional arousal and response); 3)control over impulses and
gratification of needs; 4)manner of relating to others and of
handling interpersonal situations. Dependent Personality
Disorder
They cant make even simple decisions on their own Dependent
Personality Disorder
Person presents as very submissive and clingy as well as having an
inappropriate need to be taken care of. They have big problems with
making everyday decisions like color shirt to wear. They need a lot
of reassurance and advice from others They are submissive and allow
another person to control most all aspects of their lives They will
agree with things they really dont agree with such as capital
punishment for example.They are on a committee to prevent capital
punishment because they believe in it, but will agree with some who
asserts their will on them even thought they really disagree.
Dependant on others Dependent Personality Disorder (2)
Think of the dependencya 3-year old has on their mothers.Thats
pretty much how someone with DPD acts like they need someone
else.They need someone that much; even when it comes to what they
are going to wear of what they should do with their lives. If they
lose a person that they were dependent on, they will quickly find
another. They constantly worry about being abandoned by the person
To be diagnosed, the person needs to have dependant fears that are
excessive & unrealistic. EG.An older man with cancer moves in
with his son to care for him.He is exhibiting dependency that is
appropriate given the circumstance. Anti-social Personality
Disorder
They dont care about anything but getting what they want
Anti-social Personality Disorder
1. Since the age of fifteen there has been a disregard for and
violation of the rights of others, those rights considered normal
by the local culture, as indicated by at least three of the
following: A. Repeated acts that could lead to arrest. B. Conning
for pleasure or profit, repeated lying, or the use of aliases. C.
Failure to plan ahead or being impulsive. D. Repeated assaults on
others. E. Reckless when it comes to their or others safety. F.
Poor work behavior or failure to honor financial obligations. G.
Rationalizing the pain they inflict on others. 2. At least eighteen
years in age. 3. Evidence of a Conduct Disorder, with its onset
before the age of fifteen. Jerk versus anti social
Style Disorder Superficial charm & makes friends easy
Externally makes decisions Poor judgment, impulsive behavior, dont
learn from mistakes and are competitive but poor losers Lie and
profit for enjoyment Decisions rigid and inflexible Vindictive
Impulsive Blame everything on others Externalize reasons for
behavior Others suffer and it doesnt bother them at all Jerk versus
anti social
Style Disorder Lacks empathy or responsibility for their actions
Feels empty and seeks excitement because they are bored. Assume the
worst in others and is easily argumentative and irritated Lack any
guilt, shame or embarrassment for harm they cause to others
Impulsive and reckless when it comes to dangers of actions, sex, or
substance abuse Abusive when frustrated Jerk versus Anti
social
Style Disorder Good at reading social situations and is able to
persuade others to meet their needs Assume everyone is like them
and its a dog eat dog world so they are seldom honest or open
Manipulates others to gratify their desires No real loyalty but can
come across that way (Mafia) Get others before they get you People
get what they deserve and they are cold Jerk versus
Anti-social
Style Disorder Irresponsible with money at times but can support
themselves and may even be quite successful Spend money carelessly,
fail to honor obligations, cant maintain stable work do to
discipline issues If you believed she did do it, antisocial
personality disorder might explain it Anti-social Personality
Disorder
Conscience Antisocial Personality Disorder
About 20% of the population has these tendencies and only 2 % or
really dangerous. Egocentricity, callousness, impulsiveness,
conscience defect, exaggerated sexuality, excessive boasting, risk
taking, antagonistic, deprecating attitude toward the opposite sex,
and lack of bonding with a mate. Although egocentricity and
selfishness are the norm. Sociopaths may believe they are
contributing to society and could be politicians, CEOs of companies
and the like What you see in APD He or she speaks only in very
broad generalities. They say... Everybody thinks... Everyone
knows... and such expressions are in continual use, particularly
when imparting rumor. Such a person deals mainly in bad news,
critical or hostile remarks, invalidation and general suppression.
Gossip or bearer of evil tidings or rumormonger once described such
persons The antisocial personality alters, to worsen, communication
when he or she relays a message or news. Good news is stopped and
only bad news, often embellished, is passed along. What you see in
APD (2) A characteristic, and one of the sad things about an
antisocial personality, is that it does not respond to treatment or
reform. Surrounding such a personality we find cowed or ill
associates or friends who, when not driven actually insane, are yet
behaving in a crippled manner in life, failing, not succeeding.
Such people make trouble for others. The antisocial personality
habitually selects the wrong target. If a tire is flat from driving
over nails, he or she curses a companion or a non-causative source
of the trouble. If the radio next door is too loud, he or she kicks
the cat.If A is the obvious cause, the antisocial personality
inevitably blames B or C or D. What you see in APD (3) The
antisocial becomes surrounded with incomplete projects. Many
antisocial persons will freely confess to the most alarming crimes
when forced to do so, but will have no faintest sense of
responsibility for them. They have no sense of correct causation
and particularly cannot feel any sense of remorse or shame
therefore. High Functioning Anti-social PD
Sarah Thompson, M.D. has stated in writing that she believes
President Clinton as shewrote [My opinion? Mr. Clinton clearly
meets the criteria as described in Sections A and B], Anti-social
Personality Disorder. I have no idea if the former President has
anti-social personality disorder or not ; the point is that someone
with Anti-social Personality Disorder could be high functioning
enough to be the CEO or President.Just because someone is
successful does not mean that they are NOT mentally ill. More
anti-social (2) No conscience so they have no trouble hurting
others Childhood marked by torturing and killing of small animals
Love to play with fire pyromaniac Getting into trouble as kids
(they wouldnt last very long at BMHS unless they really wanted to
stay for some self-serving purpose) Anti-social characters
Sharon Stones character in Basic Instinct Tony Soprano in the
Sopranos Psychopaths Common personality characteristics of
psychopaths are: glib and charm, grandiose sense of self-worth,
pathological lying, conning and manipulation, lack of remorse,
promiscuous behavior, and criminal versatility great salesmen
probably most could pass a polygraph test because they believe
their own lies The Psychopath (Hannibal Lector)
The psychopath is hot-headed, manipulative, irresponsible,
self-centered, shallow, lacking in empathy or anxiety, and likely
to commit more types of crimes than other offenders. They are also
more violent, more likely to recidivate, and less likely to respond
to treatment.They like to torture and kill. The Sociopath James
Bond
They will have a moral code specific to that context: they might
not lie, exploit, or manipulate within the group. Thus, they
exhibit psychopathic behaviors in certain contexts but not all.
They are able to kill and not get nervous at all.They can be
tortured and hold up well. This would be very much like James Bond.
For an agent to be able to do what James Bond or even Jason Bourne
in the Bourne Ultimatum, you would have to be a Sociopath. Casey
Anthony Sociopath or Psychopath The Difference Psychopath: They are
conning, manipulative narcissistic liar and user as a psychopath,
as long as he or she is completely lacking in remorse or empathy.
The sociopath, however, is capable of guilt, caring, building
relationships, etc., but only within a certain context. He or she
will have loyalties to a specific group but not to society at
large. Anti-social Personality
This disorder can also allow people to function extremely well in
their lives / careers. James Bond would fit the bill of anti-social
Personality disorder because he can kill a person and it doesnt
bother him he shows no fear (typical of ASPD)which allows him to
take chances without getting nervous. Assassins, soldiers, people
who torcher others for the CIA for example would benefit from being
anti-social PD. Matt Damon had this to say about Bond: "He's
repulsive. Bond is an imperialist, misogynist, sociopath who goes
around bedding women and swilling martinis and killing people.Is he
correct????? Compulsive PD Restrained, conscientious,
respectful
Very rigid, conventional, respectful Very angry underneath grew up
with very disciplined environment Really fears disapproval Very
moral perfectionist if you move something they freak out Might be
great workers -- Tell Justin / john story sight switch From the
movie Dragnet Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder
Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental &
personal control at the expense of flexibility, openness and
efficiency. Attempt to maintain a sense of control through
attention to rules, trivial details, procedures, lists, schedules
or form to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.
Time is poorly used, they pay attention to such detail that they
never get a project done. Conscientious, inflexible about matters
of morality, ethics or values and have a very strict standard of
performance. Howard Hughes Study on Diagnosing PDs in movies
The study consisted of psychology students watching various movies
and trying to diagnose personality disorders with limited
understanding (Like us) PatrickBateman in American Psycho played
byChristian Bale Aileen Wuornos in Monster, played by Charlize
Therone Suzanne Stone in To Die for, played by Nicole Kidman
American Psycho name: Patrick Bateman diagnosis:
Schizophrenia,
Bipolar disorder Type I, Homicidal ideation (possible suicidal
ideation), anxiety (OCD and generalized anxiety disorder with
intermittent panic attacks and an occasionally present eating
disorder), a questionable but present diagnosis of sociopathy,
substance abuse, sex addiction. Film Monster played by Charlize
Therone
In the film "Monster", Aileen is a prostitute who falls in love
with a young lesbian woman. Shortly after a man rapes her and tries
to kill her, but she succeeds in killing him instead, and after
that starts to kill men whom she contacts as a prostitute. Please
note that the Aileen Wuornos described in this paragraph is the
Aileen of the film as seen by the raters in this study not the real
character. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and
Antisocial Personality Disorder Film: To Die For Nicole
Kidman
Suzanne Stone in the film "To Die For" is a young woman who wants
to be on television at any cost. She marries a young man, but soon
begins to have affairs with TV producers to accomplish her main
goal: to become a news-reporter at a major TV station. When her
husband tries to persuade her to settle down and have children, she
decides to have him killed instead, taking advantage of three
troubled youths, whom she has met while trying to make a TV
production.SS was seen as a prototypical narcissistic person by the
raters: on average, she satisfied 8 of 9 criteria for narcissistic
personality disorder, some histrionic personality disorder
criteria, and relatively few others. Would be diagnosed with
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder
AKA Multiple Personality Disorder
A severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or
personality states, are present inand alternately take control ofan
individual. These people usually suffered severe physical,
psychological, or sexual abuse during childhood.They have learned
to dissociate themselves from such stressful events by selectively
forgetting them, which reduces the anxiety they feel. The name was
changed in 1994 to reflect a better understanding of the
conditionnamely, that it is characterized by a fragmentation, or
splintering, of identity rather than by a proliferation, or growth,
of separate identities. All About Eve Eve White Quiet, sad,
shy
Eve Black Happy, flirty, bit of an airhead Jane older, more mature.
Can talk to all of them but needs to go through Eve White How it
happens These children have often been kept in such extraordinary
terrifying and confusing circumstances that I am more amazed that
they survive psychologically at all than I am that they manage to
preserve themselves by a desperate redrawing of their boundaries.
What they do, when confronted with overwhelming conflict and pain,
is this: They "leave." They create a boundary so that the horror
doesn't happen to them; it either happens to no one, or to some
other self, better able to sustain its organization under such an
onslaught--at least that's what they say they did, as best they
recall. DID / MPD reflects a failure to integrate various aspects
of identity, memory and consciousness in a single multidimensional
self. Usually, a primary identity carries the individual's given
name and is passive, dependent, guilty and depressed. When in
control, each personality state, or alter, may be experienced as if
it has a distinct history, self-image and identity. The alters
(other personality) characteristicsincluding name, reported age and
gender, vocabulary, general knowledge, and predominant moodcontrast
with those of the primary identity. Certain circumstances or
stressors can cause a particular alter to emerge. The various
identities may deny knowledge of one another, be critical of one
another or appear to be in open conflict. Causes of DID Severe
physical and sexual abuse, especially during childhood May also
have post-traumatic symptoms (nightmares, flashbacks, and startle
responses) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. DID is more common
among close biological relatives of persons who also have the
disorder than in the general population. Treatment:Attempt to
integrate all the personalities into one. Dissociative Identity
Disorder
Multiple personality disorder is a severe mental disorder in which
a person displays two or more distinct identities. There can be as
many as 100 personalities or more, although most patients display
about 10 to 15 different personalities. Each takes control over the
patient's behavior for a period of time, usually adopting a unique
name, voice, movement style, and life history. The Real-life Sybil
Sybil Dorsett was a 22-year-old college student who had amnesia*.
She also had terrible headaches and sometimes could not see, as if
she were blind.Sybil showed other personalities. It was as if there
were more than one person inside Sybil's body. One personality, who
called herself Vicky, said she was from Paris. Another personality,
called Peggy Lou, was a tough woman who showed no fear. As time
passed, Sybil displayed more personalities: a writer, a flirt, a
pianist, a mother, and even an infant and two men. Real-life Sybil
(2) each personality acted and sounded different from the Sybil
Dorsett she first had met. Each personality even described his or
her physical features in different ways. One said that she had blue
eyes, while another said that he had brown. Almost everything, from
details about hair color to gestures, changed as Sybil switched
from one personality to another. In all, Sybil displayed 16
different identities. Sybil (3) There can be as many as 100
personalities or more, although most patients display about 10 to
15 different personalities. Each takes control over the patient's
behavior for a period of time, usually adopting a unique name,
voice, movement style, and life history. Possible Causes of D.I.D.
The exact cause of multiple personality disorder is unknown, but
often patients with the disorder have experienced child abuse. This
was the case for Sybil, whose mother caused exceptional trauma* for
her when she was young. Doctors see multiple personality disorder
as an attempt to cope with particularly traumatic events in a
person's life. For example, a child might deal with extreme
physical or sexual abuse by hiding memories of the abuse and
displaying other personalities. What they experience at 1st
The first symptoms usually involve amnesia. Like Sybil, people with
the disorder often start to realize that there are abnormally long
periods of time that they cannot remember. For example, they might
"wake up" in a different place or in different clothes, and recall
nothing that explains the changes. This amnesia can lead them to
suspect that something is very wrong. Conversion Disorder
Psychological disorder coverts to a physiological disorder
Paralyzed from the waist down DissociativeFugue An Obsession
Anxious and cannot stop thinking about something even though it is
unpleasant. A compulsion A repetitive Action going back to check to
see if you locked the door even though youve checked twice already
Washing your hands uncontrollably Bipolar Disorder Also known as
Manic depression
Dramatic mood swings; frantic Action & Deep Despair One day
youre depressed and cant get out of bed The next day you feel great
and full of energy but others thing what you are doing is out of
control or even dangerous Manic is elation, confusion, racing
thoughts, a lot of energy. Depression is feeling of deep sadness
that doesnt Medicines Used to Treat
Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of mania, is often
very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence
of both manic and depressive episodes. Anticonvulsant medications,
such as valproate (Depakote) or carbamazepine (Tegretol), also can
have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for
difficult-to-treat bipolar episodes. Valproate was FDA-approved in
1995 for treatment of mania. Newer anticonvulsant medications,
including lamotrigine (Lamictal), gabapentin (Neurontin), and
topiramate (Topamax), are being studied to determine how well they
work in stabilizing mood cycles. Agoraphobia Extreme fear of being
in a public place Dissociative Reaction
A person loses identity or memory (amnesia) Dissociative Fugue a
person travels a distance from their living area and then cant
remember who they are or anything about themselves;not even their
name in most cases. Schizophrenia Chronic severe and disabling
brain disorder (over 1% of the population causes people to have
hallucinations, delusions, and other confusing thoughts and
behaviors, which distort their view of reality. Loss of contact
with reality (psychotic) Paranoid-type schizophrenia can gave
hallucinations and or delusions These people often times show
deteriorated brain tissue Diagnosed in late teens, early 20s
Sometimes hear voices others dont hear, believe that others are
broadcasting their thoughts to the world, or become convinced that
others are plotting to harm them. These experiences can make them
fearful and withdrawn and cause difficulties when they try to have
relationships with others. Illusion versus Hallucination versus
Delusion
Illusion: A misperception of an external stimulus It looked like
the magician sawed the pretty lady in half Hallucination: you hear
or see something that is not there I see my dead relative and she
is talking to me about my hygiene Abraham Lincoln is at the foot of
my bed telling me what a great guy I am and that I should grow a
beard Delusion: you think something that isnt true I think I can
fly so I just off the bridge and fall like a brick into the ocean I
think Im the greatest quarterback who ever played the game The
DSM-IV Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders
Assumes that what most people do is normal The bible of psychology
/ psychiatry Has about 1000 pages and almost 300 disorders 5
revisions since 1952 (US Army related material)