Personality Disorder: Final Exam Study Guide

The final exam questions will be taken directly from this study guide.
1. Gender and Personality Disorders. How does gender influence the diagnosis of a Personality Disorder? Identify which personality disorders have gender bias and thoroughly explain this gender bias (i.e., Identify specific criteria and explain why it is biased). Offer several suggestions for reducing gender bias in the diagnosis of Personality Disorders.

2. Describe the eight domains of personality. Define each one and give one example. Then explain a personality disorder of your choice by describing it through each of the eight domains of personality.

3. Describe in great detail the five enduring and pervasive experienced in childhood that can lead to maladaptive personality development. Include examples and descriptions. Choose a Personality Disorder of your choice and outline hypotheses related to its’ development regarding these childhood experiences

4. Describe in great detail the processes that contribute to the continuity of early learning. Define all terms. Include illustrative examples of all processes.

5. Hypothesize at least two distinctly different pathways of how a Schizoid Personality Disorder may develop. Include reference to interactions with parents, temperament and biology, family styles of communication, and interpersonal patterns within the family. Be informed, but also be creative.

6. Give detailed theories of the development of Paranoid Personality Disorder according to the Psychodynamic, Interpersonal and Cognitive Perspectives.

7. What is the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and Borderline pathology? Explain how an abusive experience can lead to specific Borderline symptoms. Include how sexual abuse can lead to split object representations. Provide illustrative examples.

8. Compare and contrast Histrionic Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. What do biological theories suggest about their relationship? How are they similarly culturally influenced? How are their diagnostic criteria similar? Different? How are their developmental theories similar or different?

9. Give a detailed description of all the potential biological influences on the development of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Tie each biological influence to specific diagnostic criteria of Antisocial Personality Disorder.

10. Explain in detail and provide examples of how the behaviors and thoughts of an Avoidant Personality Disorder create a self-perpetuating cycle to make the disorder worse. Include a description of cognitive and interpersonal cycles.