scholarly journals Personality and Psychopathology: A Stagnant Field in Need of Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Emily Durbin ◽  
Brian M. Hicks
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Causal Processes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dominant Paradigm ◽  
Spectrum Model

A dominant paradigm in psychopathology research proposes that individual differences in personality are centrally involved in the origins and manifestations of psychopathology, and structural models of personality and psychopathology have been extremely useful in helping to organize associations among many traits and disorders. However, these models merely describe patterns of covariation; they do not explain the processes by which these patterns emerge. We argue that the field is stagnated, as it is overly focused on the demonstration of concurrent associations and on confirming a spectrum model that proposes traits and disorders are manifestations of the same underlying constructs. We contend that if the field is to move towards an understanding of causal processes, it must integrate knowledge and principles of personality development and developmental psychopathology. To begin this integration, we review (i) normative trends in personality change, (ii) age–related changes in the prevalence of disorders, and (iii) the impact of onset and chronicity on the severity of disorders. We propose several developmental processes that may contribute to the co–development of personality and psychopathology. We then present novel empirical findings to illustrate how a developmental perspective on traits and disorders can inform new hypotheses and propose principles and hypotheses that should guide future research. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

Using Dynamic Panel Models to Study Age–Related Differences and Time–Related Changes in Personality

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Wagner ◽  
Oliver Lüdtke ◽  
Manuel C. Voelkle
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Dynamic Panel ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Panel Models ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Approaches To Study ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Dynamic Panel Models

Along with an increasing interest in the plasticity and role of personality across the adult lifespan comes the need for a diverse set of innovative statistical approaches to study it. With this paper, we set out to illustrate some of the possibilities and challenges in modelling age–related differences and time–related changes in personality psychology by means of dynamic panel models. To this end, we first distinguish between the study of age–related differences and time–related changes and demonstrate how the treatment of age and time as either discrete or continuous variables implies important modelling choices. Second, we present a selection of four example cases that address the topic of age moderation in diverse matters and with different objectives. Based on our cross–tabulation of age and time as discrete and continuous variables, the first two example cases represent fairly well–established models (cases A and B), whereas the remaining cases are used to illustrate current developments in the field (cases C and D). We close the paper with some final remarks on current limitation and future research directions. © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology

scholarly journals Post–traumatic Growth as Positive Personality Change: Evidence, Controversies and Future Directions

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eranda Jayawickreme ◽  
Laura E. R. Blackie
Keyword(s):  
Personality Change ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Post Traumatic

This target article focuses on the construct of post–traumatic growth—positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. Prominent theories of post–traumatic growth define it in terms of personality change, and as a result, this area of research should be of great interest to personality psychologists. Despite this fact, most of the research on this topic has not been sufficiently informed by relevant research in personality psychology, and much of the extant research suffers from significant methodological limitations. We review the literature on post–traumatic growth, with a particular focus on how researchers have conceptualized it and the specific methodological issues associated with these conceptualizations. We outline some ways in which personality science can both be enriched by the study of this phenomenon and inform rigorous research on post–traumatic growth and provide a series of guidelines for future research of post–traumatic growth as positive personality change. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

scholarly journals Heightened stress responsivity and emotional reactivity during pubertal maturation: Implications for psychopathology

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Patia Spear
Keyword(s):  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Special Section ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Affective Valence ◽  
Affective Stimuli ◽  
Stress Responsivity ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThis commentary reviews and reflects on the studies of this special section: studies that collectively provide compelling evidence for meaningful changes in stress- and emotionally reactive psychophysiological systems with the transition from middle childhood into adolescence. The observed changes were complex and often overlaid upon ontogenetic differences in basal levels of activation of these systems. Maturational increases in responsiveness to stressors were stressor dependent and differentially expressed across autonomic and hormonal measures. Pubertal status increased the impact of some affective valence manipulations, although not significantly influencing others, including negative affect-related potentiation of startle/reflexes. Such ontogenetic increases in stressor and affect sensitivity may have implications for developmental psychopathology. Developmental increases in stressor reactivity may normally aid youth in responding adaptively to the challenges of adolescence, but may result in stress dysregulation among at-risk adolescents, increasing further their vulnerability for psychopathology. Pubertal-related increases in sensitivity to emotionally laden stimuli may exacerbate individual predispositions for exaggerated affective processing, perhaps contributing to the emergence of psychological disorders in these youth. Together, these studies, with their innovative use of autonomic, reflexive, and hormonal measures to index age- and pubertal-related changes in reactivity to stressors and affective stimuli, provide promising directions for future research. Some of these, along with a few cautionary notes, are outlined.

scholarly journals Exploring the Impact of Age-Related COVID-19 Messaging on Internalized Ageism in Older Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 945-945
Author(s):  
Ruheena Sangrar ◽  
Stephanie Chesser ◽  
Michelle Porter
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Constructionism ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public health messages during the COVID-19 pandemic have indicated a higher risk for older people and/or those who have multiple health conditions. Subsequent societal discourse, however, has at times arguably protested the full protection and treatment of older people from COVID-19, potentially contributing to internalized ageism. To date, how older people interpret age-related pandemic messaging and discourse has not been explored. This study examined older adults’ perspectives of age-related COVID-19 messaging and societal discourse, as well as their perceptions of vulnerability, using a social constructionism framework. Adults age 65 to 89 years participated in semi-structured interviews about their thoughts and experiences with ongoing pandemic-related public messaging. Preliminary analysis suggests that participant perspectives of COVID-19 messaging are situated along a continuum of concern associated with contracting the virus. While some, for example, describe minimal concern, others express being fearful. Individual perceptions of safety appear to be informed, in part, by the presence or absence of an underlying health condition. Individual approaches to media criticism and consumption, personal risk-taking thresholds, financial stability, and social connectedness also appear to influence how the participants perceive pandemic-related messaging. Findings suggest the framing of COVID-19 and pandemic protocols, as well as the media’s sensationalization of age-related issues, can impact older peoples’ perceived vulnerability of contracting the virus. Future research is needed to understand the long-term implications of ongoing pandemic-related messaging on older adults’ experiences of aging, as well as the consequences such messaging could pose to for their health and social behaviors.

Metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, and Covid 19: A possible correlation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmine Finelli
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Breathing Exercises ◽  
Lung Capacity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Key Indicators ◽  
The Impact

: Age and comorbidities are key indicators of hospital admission, serious illness, and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Patients with age-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, NAFLD, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, are more likely to require hospitalization and suffer severe sickness of COVID-19. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and risk factors associated with dementia may also be more vulnerable to serious COVID-19 infection. Peripheral inflammation, including in patients who recover from illness, may promote the course of neurodegenerative disorders through neuroinflammatory pathways The aim of this study is to examine the impact of COVID-19 on immunity in patients with age-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease and also to hypothesize the possible correlation between metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and COVID-19. Identifying the mechanisms that explain the complicated interaction between metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, COVID-19, inflammation, and immunity could be crucial to designing effective pharmacological therapies and procedures. This study adds to our basic information about the new coronavirus by synthesizing current knowledge of these linkages. To reduce inflammation and enhance immunity, patients should acquire good lifestyle practices. Walking, breathing exercises, and a nutritious diet all help in improving lung capacity and immunity. Future research into novel therapeutics for patients with metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and COVID-19 inflammation and immunology is encouraged by this paper.

Examining the Effects of Controlling for Shared Variance among the Dark Triad Using Meta–Analytic Structural Equation Modelling

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin E. Vize ◽  
Katherine L. Collison ◽  
Joshua D. Miller ◽  
Donald R. Lynam ◽  
Mitja Back
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Dark Triad ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Residual Content ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Impact

Multivariate procedures (e.g. structural equation modelling) are essential to personality psychology, but interpretive difficulties can arise when examining the relations between residualized variables (i.e. the residual content of a variable after its overlap with other variables has been statistically controlled for) and outcomes of interest. These issues have been the focus of recent debate within the research literature on the Dark Triad, which is a collection of interrelated but theoretically distinct personality constructs made up of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. The present paper highlights previous work on the issue of partialling and also makes use of recent developments surrounding meta–analytic structural equation modelling to reliably assess the impact of partialling on the empirical profiles of the Dark Triad components. The results show that numerous interpretive difficulties arise after partialling the overlap among the Dark Triad components, most notably for narcissism and Machiavellianism. The results are discussed in the context of contemporary Dark Triad research in addition to discussing the implications for structural equation modelling methods in personality psychology more generally. Recommendations are made for how future research can mitigate the interpretive difficulties that may arise from partialling. Copyright © 2018 European Association of Personality Psychology

The Behavioural Genetics of Personality Development in Adulthood—Classic, Contemporary, and Future Trends

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiebke Bleidorn ◽  
Christian Kandler ◽  
Avshalom Caspi
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Stability And Change ◽  
Personality Stability

Behavioural genetic research has led to important advances in the field of personality psychology. When carried out on longitudinal data, behavioural genetic studies also offer promising ways to examine the genetic and environmental origins of personality stability and change. Here, we review the findings of longitudinal twin studies, discuss their implications for our understanding of adult personality development, and point out open questions that need to be addressed by future research. Three general conclusions stand out. First, there is a strong and relatively stable genetic foundation of individual differences in personality throughout the adult life span; second, environmental influences become more important and contribute to an increasing rank–order stability of personality traits from early to middle adulthood; and third, both genetic and nonshared environmental influences contribute to both stability and change in personality traits. Equipped with this knowledge, the most urgent tasks for the next generation of behavioural genetic studies on personality development will be to (i) identify measurable environmental factors that matter and (ii) to capture the interplay between genetic and environmental influences on personality stability and change throughout adulthood. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

How Peers Make a Difference: The Role of Peer Groups and Peer Relationships in Personality Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne K. Reitz ◽  
Julia Zimmermann ◽  
Roos Hutteman ◽  
Jule Specht ◽  
Franz J. Neyer
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Peer Groups ◽  
Developmental Differences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Peer Relationship ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Clear Cut

Peers are a pervasive aspect of people's lives, but their role in personality development has rarely been considered. This is surprising, given that peers are promising candidates to explain personality development over the entire lifespan. Owing to the lack of clear–cut definitions of peers, we first elaborate on their defining criteria and functions in different life phases. We then discuss the role of peers in personality development across the lifespan. We advocate that an integration of social group perspectives and social relationship perspectives is essential to understand peer effects on personality development. Group socialization theory is particularly suited to explain developmental differences between groups as a result of group norms. However, it is blind towards differences in development within peer groups. In contrast, the PERSOC framework is particularly suited to explain individual differences in development within groups as a result of specific dyadic peer–relationship experiences. We propose that a conjunct consideration of peer–group effects and dyadic peer–relationship effects can advance the general understanding of personality development. We discuss examples for a cross–fertilization of the two frameworks that suggest avenues for future research. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

A Three–Part Framework for Self–Regulated Personality Development across Adulthood

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Hennecke ◽  
Wiebke Bleidorn ◽  
Jaap J. A. Denissen ◽  
Dustin Wood
Keyword(s):  
European Association ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Personality Changes ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
View Change ◽  
Over Time

Recently, researchers interested in personality development have begun to acknowledge the roles of motivation and self–regulation for why traits change across adulthood. We propose three preconditions under which individuals may change their own levels of a personality trait through self–directed efforts. Firstly, individuals need to desire changing their trait–related behaviours either as an end in itself or in order to achieve other goals. Secondly, they need to consider behavioural changes feasible and be able to implement the desired changes. Thirdly, behavioural changes need to become habitual in order to constitute a stable trait. After elaborating on these three conditions, we review evidence attesting to the importance of motivation and self–regulation for trait development. We conclude with a discussion of the mutual interdependence of traits and goals, as well as the limits of self–regulated personality change. From our framework, we derive why personality changes across adulthood tend to be small to medium only, namely because they may require that all three preconditions for self–regulated personality change are fulfilled. We provide reasons for why people might not view change as desirable, feasible or fail to maintain it over time. Finally, we propose ideas for potential study designs to research self–regulated personality change. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

Effects of Aging on BOLD fMRI during Prosaccades and Antisaccades

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 594-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Raemaekers ◽  
M. Vink ◽  
M. P. van den Heuvel ◽  
R. S. Kahn ◽  
N. F. Ramsey
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Saccadic Eye Movements ◽  
Blood Oxygenation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Bold Signal ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Frontal Brain ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Effects Of Aging ◽  
The Impact

Age affects the ability to inhibit saccadic eye movements. According to current theories, this may be associated with age-induced neurophysiological changes in the brain and with compensatory activation in frontal brain areas. In the present study, the effects of aging are assessed on brain systems that subserve generation and inhibition of saccadic eye movements. For this purpose, an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging design was used in adults covering three age ranges (18–30, 30–55, and 55–72 years). Group differences were controlled for task performance. Activity associated with saccadic inhibition was represented by the contrast between prosaccade and antisaccade activation. The tasks activated well-documented networks of regions known to be involved in generation and inhibition of saccadic eye movements. There was an age-related shift in activity from posterior to frontal brain regions after young adulthood. In addition, old adults demonstrated an overall reduction in the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal in the visual and oculomotor system. Age, however, did not affect saccade inhibition activity. Mid and old adults appear to increase frontal activation to maintain performance even during simple prosaccades. The global reduction of the BOLD response in old adults could reflect a reduction in neural activity, as well as changes in the neuronal-vascular coupling. Future research should address the impact of altered vascular dynamics on neural activation and the BOLD signal.

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