Personality June 22, 2011

Collect Dream Journals

The Case of Phineas Gage http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Phineas-Gage-Neurosciences-Most-Famous-Patient.html

Phineas & Personality Phineas had damage to his Frontal lobe. After the accident, Phineas showed profound changes in personality. Therefore, perhaps personality is correlated with the Frontal Lobe. Similar findings have been reported following psychosurgical procedures that damage the frontal lobe. http://www.mesacc.edu/dept/d10/asb/origins/phineas.html

Frontal Lobe & Personality As a result of these studies, we can suggest that the frontal lobe is implicated in: Restraint Orderly thought Planning appropriate action Some forms of memory Preventing repetitive behaviors (perseveration)

Freudian Psychoanalysis Theory & Practice of Counseling & Psychotherapy, 7th Ed Gerald Corey, 2005, USA, Thompson Learning

The Basis of Freudian Psychoanalysis Freud viewed human nature as deterministic: behavior is determined by our unconscious nature and instinctual biological forces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sigmund_Freud_LIFE.jpg

The Divided Personality ID: Biological & pleasure principle EGO: Psychological & reality principle SUPEREGO: Social & ideal standards of conduct http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html

Nice Theory, But.. Is there any clinical evidence to support it? Freud lists the following: Dreams Slips of the tongue & memory lapses Posthypnotic suggestions Free-association material Projection material Psychotic symptoms & their symbolic content

Freudian Dream Analysis Dreams have 2 types of content: Latent: High symbolic, reflection of unconscious motives & desires Manifest: The dream at face value Latent content is considered so painful that it is subverted into manifest content and can only be revealed by dream work. https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/d/dream_analysis.asp

Coping with Stress & Trauma Freud suggests a variety of defense mechanisms that help us deal with stress and trauma on an unconscious level by distorting reality Repression Denial Reaction Formation Projection Displacement Compensation Rationalization Sublimization Introjection Regression Identification

Role Playing Defense Mechanisms

Additional Theories

What Do You Think Causes John’s Behavior? John is 17 and has been drinking heavily since he was 12. He drinks almost every day, but when he is particularly anxious, he drinks until he passes out. His father and his grandfather were diagnosed alcoholics; the father drank himself to death when John was 14. His mother and older brother do not drink at all, and they have always told John that he is the family’s black sheep, the rebellious child who is destined to be like his father. Ask students what they think causes John‘s behavior—genetics? Early childhood experiences? Problems with feelings and thoughts? Current circumstances? Wider society? Ask them to defend heir choice. The ensuing discussion may lead to an examination of the methods by which we could discover the causes of alcoholism. It should also show how multiple perspectives can shed light on a single case. From the biogenic perspective, you could list genetic vulnerability and briefly explain the concept of concordance. If John had an identical twin, would he, too, drink heavily and at the same times? Also under the biogenic heading, neurochemical differences can be discussed. If we found that John metabolized alcohol differently from his older brother, would that support a biogenic explanation? Point out the need for a preexisting biological difference. Finally, this example can give students an appreciation of diathesis-stress theory. If John has a preexisting, inherited vulnerability, is he doomed to become an alcoholic? (Most likely, a combination of genetic factors and family and social stressors produced this pattern of use.) From the psychodynamic perspective, you could discuss oral fixation. Is dependency a result or a cause of drinking? What information would suggest that early deprivation caused John’s adolescent behavior? John probably engages in the defenses of rationalization, denial, and projection. Humanistic theorists might focus on John’s lack of self-esteem or the conditions of worth that his family might have placed on loving him. Alienated from society, he may find comfort in intoxication and escape from responsibility. Does he freely choose to drink heavily? Is he being honest with his feelings? Behaviorists would look at how John’s father and grandfather modeled how to drink heavily. At the same time, they probably introduced a good deal of stress in the boy’s life, and he probably learned that drinking reduced that stress. If his mother and brother criticized him a great deal, perhaps drinking became an operant behavior that alleviated the criticism temporarily, illustrating operant conditioning’s concept of negative reinforcement. Finally, if the sight and smell of alcohol now produce an automatic response in John, we could see his use as having a classically conditioned quality, too. If students mention that John probably thinks that he can function only when he is drunk, they appreciate the cognitive viewpoint. He may catastrophize discomforting circumstances in his life and thereby give himself a rationale for drinking heavily. Irrational beliefs such as “unless I am perfect no one will love me, so I might as well get drunk” are part of Ellis’s A-B-C theory of personality. Beck would emphasize illogical thought processes John might have, such as a tendency to maximize any perceived hurt and minimize the effects drinking has on his life. If students focus on the family’s definition of John as black sheep and the brother as perfect, they are in tune with systems thinking. His mother and father most likely were in frequent conflict; perhaps John resented that or was ignored. How did the family deal with the father’s death? John’s symptoms may only reflect a wider family pathology; in fact, the family may need to have a black sheep so other members maintain their roles. Therefore, mother and brother may unconsciously assist John in staying drunk. You can discuss “enabling” here. Finally, John may be acting out sex- and age-role stereotypes. The multicultural perspective would look at the cultural norms for John and adolescents like him. What is the peer culture like? Are others labeling him “alcoholic” prematurely or using a cultural standard that is inappropriate? The discussion should show that the same information about a person can be interpreted quite differently and that each perspective has something valuable to offer. An eclectic approach is attractive, but note that complete eclecticism is untenable. For example, isn’t it logically impossible for John to be both free in his actions and the product of determinism? http://college.cengage.com/psychology/sue/abnormal/8e/instructors/sue_irm.pdf

Diagramming Chart Activity Biological Psychodynamic Behavioral Cognitive Humanistic Motivation Source of Abnormal Behavior Treatment Example Leader

Design a Personality Theory Based Therapy http://newvaluestreams.com/wordpress/?p=406

News vs. Neuroscience

Discussion What defines a personality disorder?

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders Cluster A (Odd or Eccentric Disorders) Paranoid Personality Disorders Schizoid Personality Disorders Cluster B (Dramatic or Emotional Disorders) Antisocial Personality Disorders Borderline Personality Disorders Histrionic Personality Disorders Cluster C (Anxious or Fearful Disorders) Obsessive Compulisive Personality Disorders Anxious (Avoidant) Personality Disorders Dependent Personality Disorders

Paranoid Personality Disorders Persistent feeling of danger; often think someone is “out to get them” Suspicious of others Treatment Anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication Psychotherapy

Schizoid Personality Disorders Extreme detachment from social interactions Isolated and emotionally cold Treatment: Atypical anti-psychotics Cognitive behavioral therapy http://www.pchtreatment.com/schizoid-personality-disorder-clinic.php

Antisocial Personality Disorders "...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood." --DSM-IV Characteristic of many psychopaths Treatment None http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2637

Borderline Personality Disorders Prolonged period of unstable moods, characterized by black and white thinking and switching Abrupt transition between idealizing and despising/ridiculing another person Often contains an element of self-harm or suicidal ideation Treatment: Psychotherapy Mood stabilizers (Lithium) & anti-psychotics

Histrionic Personality Disorders Excessive emotion and attention-seeking Very dramatic & flirtatious to an excessive degree Lack of empathy for others and demand for attention often impair relationships Treatment Psychotherapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group Therapy

Obsessive Compulisive PD Extreme concern for cleanliness and perfectionism even when it impairs normal functioning Unlike a person with OCD, a person with OCPD sees nothing wrong with their obsessive thinking and compulsive routines. Treatment: Psychotherapy Sometimes, anti-depressants are useful

Anxious (Avoidant) PD Extreme, pervasive pattern of social anxiety and inhibition Extremely sensitive to criticism and highly avoidant of social interactions Often a result of low self-esteem or self-loathing Treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy Group therapy

Dependent Personality Disorders Excessive dependence on the assistance of others to fulfill emotional and physical needs Feel unable to care for themselves and view others as far more capable and powerful than they Treatments Psychotherapy and group therapies Rarely respond to medication

Analyze a Famous Person

Student Presentations