-two key elements initial case formulation Correct Answer
comprehensive problem list and initial mechanism hypothesis
comprehensive problem list: assess psychiatric and medical
problems, difficulties interpersonal, occupation, school, etc
-translate diagnostic info into terms that facilitate
conceptualization and intervention from cognitive-behavioral
point of view (Describe cognitive, behavioral, emotional
components of problem)
-to obtain problem list, collect data from multiple sources:
clinical interview, self report scales, observations, reports from
family members, etc
-can ask patients to bring to initial consultation session an intake
packet that includes broad based measure wide range difficulties
(ex: tool to assess depression nd measure of functioning)
16 PF Correct Answer to capture respondents behaviors in
specific situations rather than global behavioral tendencies
-evidence supports construct validity: separate scores for 16
separate personality factors (knowledgeable informants' reports
of individuals behavior patterns match)
-evidence retest reliability and factor structure, also utility across
variety cultures
2. barnum effect Correct Answer statements can be made of
individual that sound idiosyncratic and uniquely descriptive, but
actually so commonplace among ppl that statements become
meaningless for particular person
,-ex: handles stress well, but sometimes overwhelmed. if
experiences personal loss, can feel anxious
--describes most people
2. be cognizant of order and priming effects Correct Answer
completing self report measure of aggressiveness may alter
patients performance based aggression scores
-reverse true: if person generates alot of aggression related
responses on Rorschach, activating aggression related schemas
that may alter subsequent self attribution
-effects can be minimized by interspersing measures that could
produce carryover effects with scales that tap diff set
psychological processes
2. therapeutic assessment Correct Answer focus of personality
assessment form exploitation to engagement (Finn)
-therapeutic assessment as collaborative process where assessor
and patient work together: useful/effective
-assessment feedback provided gradually, in manageable doses,
has potential to motivate patients to engage assessment process
more deeply
Finn argued personality assessment feedback should be offered
in stepwise manner, move from info consistent with patients self
concept to info that increasingly challenges persons
understanding
Level 1: info congruent with patients self view, level 2 mildly
discrepant, 3: highly discrepant from patients habitual ways of
thinking
--anxiety provoking, requires cognitive/affective
accommodation
,major accomplishment personality assessment: offer feedback in
stepwise, collaborative manner
2nd influence on modern personality theory Correct Answer
dynamic tradition: emphasizes underlying - often unconscious -
psychological processes and structures, including impulses,
defenses, etc
-sigmund frued
-other influential dynamic perspectives: object relations theory,
attachment theory, etc
-dynamic new: emphasis on hidden mental states in shaping
thought, behavior, affective responding (underlying processes)
3 directions/opportunities Correct Answer 1. must reconnect
personality assessment with neighboring fields within and
outside psychology to strengthen empirical foundation
(integrative perspective)
2. must strengthen links between study of personality and study
personality pathology
-unify research personality pathology and research personality
traits and dynamics
3. must make explicit the ways personality assessment enhances
psychological treatment
3 other key accomplishments Correct Answer multi method
assessment: yields richer, more clinically useful data
-helps minimize negative impact of reliability and validity
limitations inherent in diff types tests because limitations tend to
vary across modality
-allows clinicians to tailor psychological treatment to needs of
individual patient
, --although more costly in short term, cost effective in long term
-especially useful in situations where patients ability or
willingness to describe their behavior and inner experience is
compromised
3. focus on meaningful test score discontinuities Correct
Answer only by understanding psychological processes
engaged by different tests can score convergences/divergences
be meaningfully interpreted
-self report and performance based measures interpersonal
dependency correlations .2 to .3, same with other domains
-ex: students in dependent and histrionic personality disorder
groups had higher scores on Rorschach oral dependency scale
than other groups (high levels implicit dependency), and only
dependent personality disorder group higher scores on
Interpersonal Dependency Inventory
--so, both dependent and histrionic personality disorders
associated with elevated implicit dependency strivings, but
individuals with dependent personality disorder acknowledge
strivings when asked, histrionic personality do not
3. illusory correlation Correct Answer based on steadfast
beliefs in relationships between certain clinical variables,
clinicians may make judgements based on non veridical
relationships known as illusory correlations
-ex: many people believe full moon produces chaotic responses
in individuals, no data supporting correlation: illusory
correlation
-can be seen with clinicians who believe certain signs and
behaviors may be indicative of some meaningful clinical entity
when actually no relationship