Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781319066949
Author: Ronald J. Comer, Jonathan S. Comer
Publisher: Worth Publishers
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Chapter 16, Problem 1Q
Summary Introduction

Introduction

Personality disorders, though a well-established area of study, still attract and require many efforts to understand. Individuals who are new to the field of psychology are often intrigued by these disorders.

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Our fascination with personality disorders can be attributed to many factors. The most important of these is the fact that the traits that constitute a personality disorder are, to some extent, present in all of us. As a result, amateurs in the field of abnormal or clinical psychology, gravitate towards this topic.

It takes time, effort, and experience to understand the nuances of personality. Many amateurs might be unable to distinguish between someone who has a personality disorder and someone who is high on a trait associated with that disorder. For example, someone might be high on narcissistic tendencies, always boasting about their achievements. However, someone with a narcissistic personality disorder will have other unhealthy tendencies and characteristics as well, including but not limited to low self-esteem, little regard for others, and an inability to handle criticism.

There is also the concern that these amateurs would involuntarily search for these qualities in themselves and people around them, labeling someone who has similar qualities as suffering from a personality disorder. Thus, experience and effort are required for an amateur psychologist to accurately identify and treat a disorder of this type.

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