Brief Lecture Notes for Unit 10a

I'll divide this unit into two parts.  The first (10a) has to do with normal (nonclinical or, more accurately, subclinical) variants of the Axis II disorders -- the personality configurations (or, variables) assessed by the Personality Self-Portrait.  The second (10b) has to do with the Axis II disorders proper.  It may take me awhile to get all this typed, so cultivate some patience.  That will be easier for some personality configurations/types than others, of course!

Six life domains

The Oldham and Morris (1990) schema begins by outlining six "life domains":

Ask yourself about yourself:  Which of these six domains is most central to you and to your life?  For instance, if you can't imagine life without other people or are primarily focused on others (their feelings, their needs, their impact on you, or their perception of you), then the domain of relationships is probably central to you.  If your career is your life and you have to admit that you're something of a "workaholic", then the domain of work is probably central to you.  And so forth.  Try to rank order the six domains from highest (1) to lowest (6) in importance to you personally.

Oldham and Morris describe 13 (!) distinct personality patterns (configurations, profiles, or types), and summarize how people in each pattern might respond to each of the six domains.  That means 13 x 6 = (carry the 1) 78 pieces of information for you to learn if you really want to master this model... a lot.  I'll be content if you can generate a reasonable "capsule summary" of each configuration from memory -- the core features that are most defining.

Fortunately, the 13 patterns cluster into four superordinate groups.  Still more conveniently, they can be linked to the by-now-familiar Big Five:

Note that the two Big Five dimensions of E and A together comprise the so-called interpersonal circumplex, of which more will be said.  But first, let's take a whirlwind tour of the 13 patterns.

Vigilant -- "The Survivor"

Nothing escapes the notice of the men and women who have Vigilant personality style. These individuals possess an exceptional awareness of their environment. They are immediately aware of the mixed messages, the hidden motivations, the evasions, and the subtlest distortions of the truth that elude or delude less gifted observers.

Solitary -- "The Loner"

Solitary men and women need no one but themselves. They are unmoved by the maddening crowd, liberated from the drive to impress and to please. Solitary people are remarkably free of the emotions and involvements that distract so many others. What they may give up in terms of sentiment and intimacy, however, they may gain in clarity of vision.

Idiosyncratic -- "The Different Drummer"

Idiosyncratic men and women are not like anyone else. They are dreamers, seekers of the spirit, visionaries, mystics. They are true originals and they stand out, sometimes as eccentrics, sometimes as geniuses.

Mercurial  -- "Fire and Ice"

Life is a roller coaster for those with the Mercurial personality style- and they'll insist that you come along for the ride. Mercurial men and women yearn for experience, and they jump into a new love or a new lifestyle with both feet, without even a glance back.

Dramatic -- "The Life of the Party"

Dramatic types are all heart. They have been granted the gift of feeling, with which they color the lives of everyone around them. Dramatic people fill their world with excitement; things happen in their lives.

Self-Confident  -- "Star Quality"

Self-Confident individuals stand out. They're the leaders, the shining lights, the attention getter in their public or private spheres. They are extraverted and intensely political.

Sensitive  -- "The Homebody"

Sensitive people come into possession of their powers when their world is small and they know the people in it. These men and women- although they avoid a wide social network and shun celebrity- can achieve great recognition for their creativity.

Devoted -- "The Good Mate"

Devoted types care, and that's what makes their lives worth living. You won't find anyone more loving, more solicitous of, more concerned for your need and feelings or for those of the group as a whole. Devoted people are the ones who tell you, "I'm happy if you're happy"- and mean it.

Conscientious -- "The Right Stuff"

Call them the backbone of America. Conscientious-style people are the men and women of strong moral principle and absolute certainty, and they won't rest until the job is done and done right. They are loyal to their families, their causes, and their superiors. Hard work is a hallmark of this personality style; Conscientious types achieve.

Self-Sacrificing -- "The Altruist"

To live is to serve; to love is to give. These are axioms for individuals who have the Self-Sacrificing personality style. At is best and most noble, this is the selfless, magnanimous personality style of which saints and good citizens are made.  

Adventurous -- "The Challenger"

Throw caution to the winds- here comes the Adventurer. Who but adventurers would have taken those longs leaps for mankind? No risk, no reward, they say. Indeed, for people with the Adventurous personality style, the risk is the reward.  

Leisurely -- "California Dreaming"

Free to be me- no one can take away this right from a person who has a leisurely personality style. These men and women play by the rules and fulfill their responsibilities and obligations. But once they've put in their time, they will let no person, institution or even culture deprive them of their personal pursuit of happiness, for to the Leisurely person this is what life is all about.

Aggressive -- "Top Dog"

Who's the boss? The Aggressive style, of course. While others may aspire to leadership, Aggressive men and women move instinctively to the helm. They wield power with ease. They never back away from a fight. They compete with the supreme confidence of champions.

Reading through these descriptions, which two or three sound most like you?  Least?  (Don't peek at your PSP results;  or, if you can't help but remember them, try to make a separate, subjective evaluation based only on the narratives above.)  Of course, your self-perceptions may not match how others see you (that's particularly more true for some types than others);  if you're really brave, show these notes to a few friends and ask them to pick the three paragraphs that they think fit you the most, and the three that fit you the least.  If all your friends concur with one another, but you see yourself differently, an interesting question is posed:  which is the "real you", the public self or the private self?  Often there is a striking contrast (particularly for introverts who keep their best self hidden from the world).

Group exercise (as time permits):  Choose -- based on your numerical results from taking the PSP, your subjective self-perceptions from the exercise above, or whatever combination of both that you think best weights these two sources of information -- the one category of the 13 that you think best captures who you are.  Now check above to see which of the four superordinate categories within which it belongs:  reserved, outgoing, cooperative, competitive.  (Usually, your choice should match one of your dominant Big Five traits:  E-, E+, A+, or A- respectively.)

In class, time permitting, we'll be dividing into four groups based on these perceptions, and having a discussion of what makes those in your group different from other groups.  Your confidentiality is protected in that you won't have to disclose which of the specific 13 categories best fits you, only the general cluster.  (These aren't clinical categories -- all of them are adaptive and "normal" -- and there's no better or worse way to be.)  If you absolutely feel threatened by this (an infrequent occurrence), you can pick the group that most interests you even if you really don't see yourself that way, and try to "pass" as a member of that group.  Or, as a last resort, you can opt out of the exercise -- ultimately, as always in this class, you're in control.

Discussion points for this exercise:

The interpersonal circumplex

If we make the Big Five dimension of Agreeableness the X-axis or horizontal axis on a Cartesian coordinate plot, and make Extraversion the Y-axis or vertical axis, then the space defined by these two axes (with the population average on both dimensions defining the midpoint) can be styled the "interpersonal circumplex", because in the minds of many communication theorists, these two dimensions in combination largely determine how you relate to, communicate with, and interact with others.  (In fact, the model is also called a circumplex because it is said to have some complex statistical properties that I won't bother you with here.)

For instance, those most likely to be seen by others as "warm" are E+ A+ types, who have both an outgoing and a cooperative nature.  Those most likely to be seen as "cold" (but who may not be bothered by that designator) are E- A- types, who have both a reserved and a competitive nature.

Those most likely to be seen by others as dominant (as "leaders" in a conventional sense) are E+ A- types, who are outgoing yet competitive.  Those most likely to be seen as submissive or "followers" are E- A+ types, with their combination of reserve and cooperation.

Similarity versus complementarity

Which governs relationships more, similarity (seeking out people with whom you have something in common) or complementarity (seeking out those who are strong where you are weak and vice versa)?  Research is mixed.  Note that folk sayings can be found on both sides of this question.

Probably similarity and complementarity operate in different ways, on different levels, and at different times or phases in a relationship, so there may be a both/and, not an either/or, relationship between them.  (For instance, similarity may operate at a more conscious or deliberate-rational level, complementarity at a more unconscious or implicit level.)  In healthy people there is a necessary balance between both kinds of influences.  Too much similarity is boring;  too much complementarity, alienating or frightening.

Dimension E may (?) involve more complementarity:  the extravert needs an audience, the introvert needs someone who will take the (unwanted) limelight.  But dimension A may (?) involve more similarity:  cooperators seek fellow cooperators, competitives need someone against whom to compete.  This doesn't always hold true, but is a common hypothesis proposed by advocates of the circumplex model.

While any position on the circumplex can be healthy and adaptive, it's likely that extremes in any direction start to become characterized by behavioral rigidity and an inability to switch mental, emotional, and behavioral gears in a situationally responsive, flexible way.  Thus, extremes lead to blind spots, such as the E++ who has to be the center of attention, the E-- who can't connect with others, the A++ who is too fearful of initiative, rejection, or conflict, or the A-- who is uncontrollably hostile, domineering, or hypercompetitive.  Of this, more later (in unit 10b) as we begin to explore the more extreme variants of the 13 categories above... which, while normal in their own right, when taken to excess become the Axis II disorders.

A more in-depth look at the 13 patterns

Just as the 13 patterns can be classified into four clusters based on their position on the interpersonal circumplex (above), so -- independently -- they can also be categorized in terms of which of the six life domains is central for each, as follows:

Here are some key traits likely associated with each of the 13 patterns.

Vigilant Style

Solitary Style

Idiosyncratic Style

Mercurial Style

Dramatic Style

Self-Confident Style

Sensitive Style

Devoted Style

Conscientious Style

Self-Sacrificing Style

Adventurous Style

Leisurely Style

Aggressive Style

On to Unit 10b

Back to Unit 9

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