Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-71). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (D.Psyc.(Clin.))--University of Wollongong, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 70-81.

Narcissism, often linked to a sense of entitlement and inflated sense of self, is a complex condition that has been studied for approximately a century. It is typically associated with individualistic cultures, which place emphasis on the self. Although much is known about narcissism, there is far less knowledge on narcissism in collectivist cultures. The Xhosa culture is commonly seen as a collectivist culture. No research to date has been conducted on this construct with Xhosa-speaking South Africans. The aim of the study was to explore and describe therapist perceptions of narcissism in traditional cultural contexts. The objectives of the study included an investigation into how narcissism presents in the Xhosa culture, and an exploration of the narcissistic elements that manifest more prominently. A qualitative, exploratory descriptive research design was employed, and snowball sampling was used to identify psychologists from the Nelson Mandela Metropole for inclusion in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, and data was analysed by thematic analysis. The findings of the thematic analysis consisted of six themes, which are thoughts on the Xhosa culture, culture and personality, contemporary Western theory lacking, traits, parenting, and interpersonal and personal difficulties. These themes reflect the participants’ experience, thoughts, and opinions on narcissism in individuals from the Xhosa culture.

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2017-07-06T11:44:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3395465 bytes, checksum: 2cec5af03e01034c60cd5bbe8cd30f27 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-06T11:44:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3395465 bytes, checksum: 2cec5af03e01034c60cd5bbe8cd30f27 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / Personality disorders are defined as a persistent pattern of internal experience and behaviors that deviate markedly from the individual culture's expectations in a widespread and inflexibly way. Begins in adolescence and early adulthood, is stable over time and leads to injury. The types of personality disorders (PD) according to DSM-V are: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive. The aim of this master thesis is to elaborate, validate and verify the psychometric properties of the items of an instrument to assess personality disorders. To do this we applied the Assessment Instrument of Personality Disorders (AIPD), developed and validated in this study in a sample of 470 people. The investigation verified the one-dimensionality of each item set of disorders through factor analysis for two forms of the instrument (a polytomic and a dichotomous). The factor analysis conducted by the principal-axis method and VARIMAX rotation resulted in a final matrix composed of nine factors that are organized as representative of the following personality disorders: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive. For the Histrionic, there was no satisfactory psychometric items and in line with the literature to interpret this PD. The reliability of the measure in each disorder showed levels above 0.60, an acceptable value considering the low number of items in some factors. Regarding the instrument in dichotomized form, this did not show interpretable factors. The structure pointed to only one factor that explained 20% of the variance (considered low) and 0.955 trust index. The IRT analysis was conducted with polytomous format because it presented the best results. Three factors stood out as the amount of information offered on the latent trait, they are: Narcissistic PD, Dependent PD and Avoidant DP. Factors that have the best parameters of difficulty and discrimination were the Narcissistic and Avoidant, all between median and high. The teta values (ability) estimated from the subjects from the TRI are presented in this investigation as a possible tool for decision making about the presence or absence of a specific PD. The overall results are considered satisfactory and the validated instrument can be used as a tool for research in the evaluation of personality disorders. / Os transtornos da personalidade são definidos como um padrão persistente da experiência interior e de comportamentos que se desviam acentuadamente das expectativas da cultura do indivíduo de forma generalizada e inflexível. Tem início na adolescência ou início da idade adulta, é estável ao longo do tempo e leva a prejuízo. Os tipos de transtornos da personalidade (TP) de acordo com DSM-V são: Paranoide, Esquizoide, Esquizotípica, Antissocial, Borderline, Histriônica, Narcisista, Evitativa, Dependente, Obsessivo-compulsiva. O objetivo da presente dissertação é elaborar, validar e verificar as propriedades psicométricas dos itens de um instrumento para avaliar transtornos da personalidade. Para isso, foram aplicados o Instrumento de Avaliação dos Transtornos da Personalidade (IATP), elaborado e validado neste estudo, em uma amostra de 470 pessoas. A investigação verificou a unidimensionalidade de cada conjunto de itens nos transtornos através de análises fatoriais para duas formas do instrumento (politômica e dicotômica). A Análise fatorial realizada pelo método dos eixos principais fatoriais (PAF) e rotação VARIMAX, resultou em uma matriz final composta por nove fatores que se organizaram como representativos dos seguintes transtornos da personalidade: Paranoide, Esquizoide, Esquizotípica, Antissocial, Borderline, Narcisista, Evitativa, Dependente e Obssessivo-compulsiva. Para o Histriônico, não houve itens psicometricamente satisfatórios e em consonância com a literatura, capazes de interpretar esse TP. A confiabilidade da medida em cada transtorno apresentou índices superiores a 0,60, um valor aceitável pelo baixo número de itens de alguns fatores. Quanto ao instrumento no formato dicotomizado, este não apresentou fatores interpretáveis. A estrutura apontou para apenas um fator com variância explicada de 20%, considerada baixa, e índice de fidedignidade de 0,955. A análise da TRI foi feita com o formato politômico, pois este apresentou os melhores resultados. Três fatores se destacaram quanto a quantidade de informação oferecida sobre o traço latente, são eles: TP Narcisista, TP Dependente e TP Evitativa. Os fatores que obtiveram os melhores parâmetros de dificuldade e discriminação foram o Narcisista e Evitativa, todos entre medianos e altos. O valor do teta (habilidade) dos sujeitos estimados a partir da TRI são apresentados nessa investigação como uma possível ferramenta para tomada de decisão quanto a presença ou ausência de um TP específico. Os resultados de modo geral são considerados satisfatórios e o instrumento validado pode ser utilizado como ferramenta para fins de pesquisa na avaliação dos transtornos da personalidade.

Previous research has studied the relationship between the use of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and various personality traits when individuals are presented with persuasive information. This study aims to examine attitude change toward treatment in personality disorder (PD) patients using the ELM. It is predicted that patients of BPD, SPD, and OCPD will be more likely to use the central route of processing, while patients of NPD will be more likely to use the peripheral route of processing when evaluating persuasive information due the personality traits characteristic of the respective disorders. Selected patients of the four PDs of interest will be randomly assigned to read a positive persuasive appeal containing information more likely to be persuasive to an individual using the central route of processing or, conversely, the peripheral route of persuasion. Differences in treatment attitudes before and after reading each appeal will be compared in a 2x4 Factorial ANOVA design. Understanding individual differences in information processing and attitude change toward treatment depending on personality disorder could potentially allow for mental health professionals to consider these tendencies when encouraging treatment for individual personality disorder patients.

This study uses a cognitive group intervention approach in an attempt to alter anti-social behavior in elementary school children who experienced parental loss. The findings demonstrate improvement in some behaviors and worsening in others.

It is the purpose of the present thesis to determine the adjustment of a sampling of correspondence club members. The hypothesis is that the social adjustment of these individuals is inferior to that of the individuals used in two personality inventories. In addition, answers to these questions are sought: Is there a common need or problem that motivates these men and women to seek companionship through correspondence agencies? What is their age, sex, cultural and geographical background? What are the physical qualities and economic status of the members and what qualities and status are they seeking in the members they contact?

No description available.

No description available.

Recent conceptualizations of psychopathy are moving toward more inclusive, purely trait-based models. However, researchers continue to heavily rely on assessments of psychopathy that include categorical behavioral elements. The newly developed Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality – Institutional Rating Scale appears to be a promising interview-based measure of psychopathy, but research on its reliability and validity is in its infancy. As a second issue, the vast majority of research on psychopathy, particularly in offender populations, is conducted with male participants. Nonetheless, the growing body of literature involving incarcerated females suggests gender differences in the prevalence and manifestation of psychopathic traits. Reasons for these differences are unclear, but some have proposed socialized gender roles as a contributing factor. With a sample of 52 female 49 male offenders recruited from a large, metropolitan jail, this dissertation evaluated the construct validity of the CAPP-IRS and examined the effect of gender role conformity on the manifestation of psychopathic traits. Results indicated that a three-factor model of psychopathy represented by antagonistic interpersonal relations, restricted emotions, and disinhibited behavior best fit the data. Findings further suggested convergent and discriminant validity for the CAPP-IRS. Additionally, masculine and feminine gender role conformity differentially related to psychopathy, but generally accounted for a small proportion of the variance in psychopathic traits. Recommendations for future research on the CAPP model and its assessment as well as implications for the clinical assessment of psychopathy in women are discussed.