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Borderline personality disorder features: The role of self‐discrepancies and self‐complexity
Author(s) -
Parker Alexandra G.,
Boldero Jennifer M.,
Bell Richard C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
psychology and psychotherapy: theory, research and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 1476-0835
DOI - 10.1348/147608305x70072
Subject(s) - borderline personality disorder , psychology , personality , clinical psychology , vulnerability (computing) , minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , developmental psychology , social psychology , computer science , computer security
Objectives Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves disordered self‐conceptions, along with dysphoria and anxiety. The present study examined the role of actual‐ideal (AI) and actual‐ought (AO) self‐discrepancies, and self‐complexity as predictors of borderline personality features in a student population. Method AI and AO self‐discrepancy magnitudes across all self‐domains were assessed, along with self‐complexity, idiographically and nomothetically. Borderline personality features were assessed using subscales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI‐2). Results Both AI and AO self‐discrepancies were directly related to BPD personality features, in that those with larger self‐discrepancies of both types reported more features. Self‐complexity had no direct relationship to BPD personality features; rather, it moderated the relationship between AI, but not AO, self‐discrepancies and BPD personality features. For individuals low in self‐complexity, a stronger relationship between AI self‐discrepancies and BPD personality features existed. Conclusions This study is novel in its consideration of the impact of features of the self‐system on BPD personality features. It highlights the important role that AO self‐discrepancies, and the combined role of AI self‐discrepancies and self‐complexity, have in increasing vulnerability to BPD. The findings suggest that different pathways might be involved in the vulnerability to BPD, depending on self‐discrepancy type and level of self‐complexity.