FINALS LESSON IN ABNORMAL
PSYCHOLOGY
CHAPTER 1:
PERSONALITY
DISORDERS
PERSONALITY
 The unique pattern of traits and behaviors
that characterize the individual.
 Is the way of thinking, feeling and
behaving that makes a person different
from other people.
 Typically stays the same over time.
 Is influenced by experiences environment
(surroundings, life situations and inherited
characteristics)
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
 One’s way of thinking, feeling and
behaving deviates from the expectations
of the culture.
 Causes distress or problems functioning
 Interferes with relationships
 Last over time (chronicity)
AFFECT AT LEAST TWO OF THESE
AREAS:
 Way of thinking about oneself and others
 Way of responding emotionally
 Way of relating to other people
 Way of controlling one’s behavior
10 PERSONALITY
DISORDERS THAT
DIVIDED INTO 3
CLUSTERS:
CLUSTER A (ODD / ECCENTRIC
CLUSTER) “WEIRD PERSONALITIES”
PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER
SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER
SCHIZOTYPAL PERSONALITY DISORDER
 Odd or dysfunctional pattern of thinking
 Unusual behavior (distrust and
suspiciousness)
 Social detachment or lack on interest in
others.
CLUSTER B (DRAMATIC CLUSTER)
“WILD PERSONALITIES”
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER
NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER
ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER
 Dramatic
 Emotional
 Erratic
 Impulsive Behavior
 Antisocial Activities
CLUSTER C (ANXIOUS CLUSTER)
“WORRIED PERSONALITIES”
AVOIDANT PERSONALITY DISORDER
DEPENDENT PERSONALITY DISORDER
OBSESSIVE – COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY
DISORDER
 Anxiety
  Fearfulness

CLUSTER A: ODD / ECCENTRIC

CLUSTER (WEIRD PERSONALITIES)

PARANOID
PERSONALITY
DISORDER
(ACCUSATORY)
 Lacks trust and is suspicious of others and
the reason for their actions.
 Believes that others are trying to do harm
with no reason to feel this way.
 Doubts the loyalty of others.
SCHIZOTYPAL
 Is not willing to trust others.
 Hesitates to confide in others for fear that
PERSONALITY
others will use that information against
them. DISORDER
 Takes innocent remarks or situations that
are not threatening as personal insults or (AWKWARD)
attacks.
 Becomes angry or hostile to what are  Has unusual thinking, beliefs, speech or
believed to be slights or insults. behavior.
 Has a habit of holding grudges.  Has flat emotions or emotional responses
 Often suspects that a spouse or sexual that are socially unusual.
partner is unfaithful with no reason to feel  Has social anxiety, including not being
this way. comfortable making close connections
with others or not having close
SCHIZOID relationships
 Responds to others in ways that are not

PERSONALITY proper or shows suspicion or lack of

interest

DISORDER (ALOOF)  Has “magical thinking” – the belief that

their thoughts can affect other people and
events.
 Appears to be cold or not interest in  Believes that some casual incidents or
others. events have hidden messages.
 Almost always chooses to be alone.
 Is limited in how emotions are expressed.
 Cannot take pleasure in most activities.
 Cannot pick up typical social cues.
 Has little to no interest in having sex with
another person.
SYMPTOMS:
o Odd thinking, speech and BORDERLINE
o
appearance, bizarre behavior
Suspiciousness PERSONALITY
o
o
Inappropriate or constricted effect
Excessive social anxiety DISORDER
o Included also under Schizophrenia
Spectrum Disorder  IDENTITY DISTURBANCE: Shows
serious disturbances in basic identity,
marked unstable self – image.
CLUSTER B: DRAMATIC CLUSTER  Chronic feelings of emptiness.
(WILD PERSONALITIES)  AFFECTIVE INSTABILITY: Unstable
moods or drastic mood shifts.
 Difficulty controlling anger or temper
 IMPULSIVITY: Intense outburst with little
ANTISOCIAL provocations low frustration tolerance
erratic self – destructive behavior (binges
PERSONALITY of gambling, sex, substance abuse,
eating, reckless driving)

DISORDER  Recurrent suicidal behavior

 Self-mutilations sometimes for relief of

(SOCIOPATH / anxiety and dysphoria associated with

analgesia (absence of experience of pain)

PSYCHOPATH)  Stress – related paranoid ideation

 Ambivalence

Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation for

the rights of others.

 Failure to conform to social norms

 Deceitfulness
 Impulsivity
 Did not develop conscience: has no guilt
or remorse
 Precursor: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) and Conduct Disorder
 Irritability and Aggressiveness
 Reckless disregard of self and others
 Consistent irresponsibility


Can be charming and manipulative
Higher rates of substance abuse HISTRIONIC
 Usually ends – up in prison

At least age 18, Evidence of conduct disorder

PERSONALITY
with onset before age 15. DISORDER
Pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and
attention – seeking behavior

 Uncomfortable when not the center of

attention.
  Sexually seductive and provocative CLUSTER C: ANXIOUS CLUSTER
behavior.
(WORRIED PERSONALITIES)
 Uses physical appearance to draw
attention.
 Displays rapidly shifting emotions.
 With impressionistic speech.
 Lively, dramatic and excessively
AVOIDANT
extroverted styles.
 Self – dramatization, theatrical and
PERSONALITY
exaggerated.
 Suggestible, easily influenced.
DISORDER
 Considers relationships as more intimate
than they actually are. Pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of
inadequacy and hypersensitivity to negative
evaluation.

NARCISSISTIC  Avoid social interaction

PERSONALITY
 Pattern of extreme social inhibition and
introversion.
 Hypersensitivity to fear, criticism and
DISORDER rebuff.
 Unwilling to get involved with people
unless certain of being liked.
Pervasive pattern of grandiosity and need for  Inhibited in new interpersonal relations.
admiration  Desire for affection and relationships
 Often lonely and bored
 Grandiose sense of self – importance.
 Low self – esteem and excessive self –
 Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited
consciousness.
success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal
 Shy and insecure.
love.
 View self as socially inept, personally
 Believes that he / she is “special” and
unappealing or inferior to others.
should only relate with other high status
 Unusually reluctant to engage in new
people.
activities for fear of embarrassment.
 Requires excessive admiration.
 Has sense of entitlement.
 Interpersonally exploitative
 Lacks empathy
 Often envious of other or believes that
DEPENDENT
others are envious of him / her.
 Arrogant and with haughty behaviors.
PERSONALITY
 Unwilling to take perspective of others.
 Constant self – references.
DISORDER
 Inflated sense of self with a very fragile
self – esteem inside. Pervasive need to be taken – cared of leading to
 Very sensitive to criticism. submissive and clinging behavior.

 Has trouble making everyday decisions.

 Needs excessive amount of advice and
reassurance from others.
 Difficulty assuming responsibility
 Feelings of worthlessness and
incompetence.
 Pessimism and lack of self – confidence.
 Submission and not being able to say NO.
  Never offering a dissenting opinion. PREVALENCE OF PERSONALITY
 Volunteering to do thing they don’t want
DISORDERS
to.
 Feels uncomfortable or helpless when
alone.
 Exaggerated fears of being unable to care
for herself or himself.
 Urgently seeks another relationships as
one close relationship ends.

OBSESSIVE –
COMPULSIVE
PERSONALITY
CAUSAL FACTORS OF PDs
DISORDER Genetics
Parental Upbringing
Childhood Trauma
Pervasive pattern of preoccupation with
Earlier Schemas
orderliness and perfectionism
Cultural Factors
 Preoccupied with rules, lists, orders,
organizations or schedules.
 Preoccupied with order and symmetry or TREATMENT
making things even – up.  Psychopharmacology:
 Perfectionism that interferes with task Antidepressants
completion. Antianxiety
 Oftenly checks possible mistakes. Antipsychotic
 Excessively devoted to work and
productivity with exclusion of leisure  Psychotherapy
activities and friendships. Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
 Reluctant to delegate tasks. Psychodynamic Therapy
 Overconscientious, scrupulous and Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT)
inflexible about matters of morality, ethic
or values.  Other Interventions
 Shows rigidity and stubbornness. Community Treatment
 Unable to discard worn – out or worthless Social Skills Training
objects. Assertiveness Training
 Hoard money for future catastrophes.