Assignment 8: Disorders Involving Personality      Due 4/9/01

Answer each of the following questions in a short paragraph (no more than 50-75 words each).  Answers must be in your own words; you may not quote from the readings or take 5 or more words verbatim from the readings, or use the work of another student.

1. The chapter in your text begins with the cases of Tom and Lawrence; although they are presented as examples of specific types of personality disorders, they also illustrate more general characteristics typical of all personality disorders.  List and explain three. (In other words, do not include characteristics that are specific to their particular type of personality disorder.)

2. Cluster A personality disorders are similar in some ways to psychotic disorders; what is the essential similarity, what is the fundamental difference, and how might we understand the relationship between them.

3. Explain how Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is both similar to yet different from Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

4. What do the adoption and twin studies of schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder tell us about the possible relationship between these two patterns of psychopathology and their etiology?

5. Researchers have been very interested in the relationship of early parental discipline and how children respond to punishment as a way of trying to explain the etiology of Antisocial personality disorder; summarize one possible theory and evidence on which it is based.

The following questions are only for discussion in class.  You should be prepared to offer your thoughts if called on.

6. Most experts agree that the concept of personality disorders in DSM is especially controversial; briefly give two reasons why.

7. Why is Borderline personality disorder such a controversial diagnosis?

8. Explain how criminality, psychopathy and antisocial personality overlap, and how they are supposed to be distinguished.

9. In what ways might psychologists be able to link the characteristics of Antisocial personality disorder to the influence of inborn temperaments?

10. Describe one way in which personality disorders can be understood in terms of socio-cultural influences.  (Note: you might want to refer back to the Kaplan article in Chapter 4 of Lilienfeld)

Copyright ©1998 Beverly J. Volicer and Steven F. Tello, UMass Lowell.  You may freely edit these pages  for use in a non-profit, educational setting.  Please include this copyright notice on all pages.