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Personality traits and maladaptivity: Unipolarity versus bipolarity
Author(s) -
Williams Trevor F.,
Simms Leonard J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/jopy.12363
Subject(s) - psychology , agreeableness , extraversion and introversion , big five personality traits , personality , trait , personality pathology , psychosocial , clinical psychology , personality disorders , developmental psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , computer science , programming language
Objective Dimensional personality trait models have gained favor as an alternative to categorical personality disorder (PD) diagnosis; however, debate persists regarding whether these traits should be conceptualized as maladaptive at both extremes (i.e., maladaptively bipolar) or just one trait pole (i.e., unipolar). Method To inform the debate on maladaptive bipolarity, linear and nonlinear relations between personality traits and dysfunction were examined in a large psychiatric patient sample ( N = 365). Participants self‐reported on normal‐range and pathological personality domains, life satisfaction, specific interpersonal problems, and broad psychosocial functioning. In addition, participants were interviewed regarding specific psychiatric symptoms and broad psychosocial functioning. Results All traits related moderately to strongly with at least one dysfunction variable. All traits were predominantly correlated with dysfunction at one pole; however, several small linear relations provided some evidence for maladaptively high Extraversion and Agreeableness. None of the significant nonlinear effects provided clear evidence for maladaptivity at both ends of any trait. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggest that broad personality traits are predominantly maladaptive at one extreme; however, in limited cases, the opposite extreme may also be maladaptive.