Contemporary Perspectives on Personality Disorders

Personality is best conceptualized as the social product of interactions with significant other

we interact with others in our reflections and realizations

real or imagined others and their expectations

Mental disorders arise from maladaptive social interactions

the recurrent set of interpersonal situations which characterize a person's life

No essential self; self is defined and redefined through others' feedback and interactions

psychology with existentialism

The idea that people give meaning to their lives through their choices and actions

Others are essential to the formation of our self-identity

Leary's levels of personality (5 levels)

what is observable and objective in interpersonal behavior

Expressed through the verbal content of statements made about self or others

Concerned with preconscious and unconscious attributions

Issues that the individual censors from consciousness and compulsively avoids across all levels of personality, marked by their rigid and noticeable absence

Expressed not only in the ego ideal, but in the standards through which self and others are judged

Personality described using axes of dominance and affiliation; each style falls along this circle, blending into neighbors

Interpersonal behavior pulls for specific reactions; dominance invites submission, friendliness invites friendliness, etc.

Interpersonal styles evoke reactions that confirm one's expectations, reinforcing traits (e.g., narcissism, OCPD)

Desire for closeness vs. fear of rejection/failure; see self as incompetent, others as uninterested

"I am no good", "I am worthless", "I am unlovable"

Being discovered to be a "fraud," being put down, demeaned, or rejected

They avoid social and professional opportunities to escape evaluation, driven by a fear of failure and criticism from others

Dysphoria from unmet relational/achievement needs; sadness, anxiety

View self as helpless, attached to strong caretaker; others seen as nurturing, idealized.

"I need other people to survive", "I am completely helpless", "I am all alone"

Rejection or abandonment

Cultivate a dependent relationship and subordinate themselves to a "strong" figure and trying to win over or please this person

Anxiety over rejection, depression if abandoned; euphoria when dependency is gratified

Need for control and order; fear disorganization, view self as solely responsible and others as irresponsible

"I could be overwhelmed", "I am disorganized or disoriented", "I need order, systems, and rules in order to survive"

Flaws, mistakes, disorganization

Evaluate and rate other people's performance and their own

Regret, anxiety, and anger over perceived imperfections or failures

See self as loners or victimized, others as exploitative or weak

"I need to look out for myself", "I need to be the aggressor or I will be the victim"

"Exploit or be exploited," may act out violently or as a "con artist"; distrust society.

Anger over injustice, entitlement to others' possessions

Self-view as special/entitled, need others to validate superiority

"Since I am special, I deserve special privileges", "I'm superior to others and they should acknowledge this", "I'm above the rules"
- Many have covert beliefs of being unlovable or helpless

Seek status, admiration, wealth, power, competition

Anger or depression when not admired or respected; prone to envy and competitive behavior

Crave attention and affection; view self as glamorous, others as sources of approval

"I am basically unattractive", "I need other people to admire me in order to be happy"

Use dramatics, charm, and expressiveness to gain attention

Gaiety when admired, anxiety and anger when ignored or rejected

Value detachment and autonomy; self as self-sufficient, others seen as intrusive

"I am basically alone", "Close relationships with other people are unrewarding and messy", "I can do things better if I'm not limited by other people", "Close relationships are undesirable"

to keep their distance from other people, insofar as this is feasible

Sadness from isolation, anxiety when forced into social contact