Personality and personality disorders

Thomas A. Widiger, Paul T. Costa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The mental disorders that most clearly relate to personality are the personality disorders. The purpose of this article is to review the support for the hypothesis that the personality disorders of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) represent variants of normal personality traits. We focus in particular on the efforts to identify the dimensions of personality that may underlie the personality disorders. We then illustrate the relationship of personality to personality disorders using the five-factor model, discuss conceptual issues in relating normal and abnormal personality traits, and consider methodological issues that should be addressed in future research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationThe Science of Mental Health
Subtitle of host publicationVolume 7: Personality and Personality Disorder
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages118-131
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9781136767562
ISBN (Print)0815337434, 9780815337508
StatePublished - Jan 1 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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