NEED ASSISTANCE TO FINISH OFF

· Wk 1 - Personality Disorders Paper [due Mon]

Write 1,050- to 1,400-word paper describing the theories related to personality disorders. Include the following:

Describe the general symptoms of three types of personality disorders.

Personality is described as, “the characteristics or blend of characteristics that make a person unique.” (Weinberg, Gould, 1999)

Weinburg, R.S & Gould, D.S. (1999) Personality and Sport. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology 25-46

Persons suffering from personality disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, aggression, depression, adjustment disorders, and sexual disorders such as paraphilias are prone to criminal behavior, according to “Psychiatric Illness Associated with Criminality,” by William H. Wilson, MD, and Kathleen A. Trott, MD (www.emedicine.com/med/topic3485.htm).

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· Explain the theories behind the etiology of these personality disorders.

St. Thomas Aquinas believed that a natural law was based on people’s tendency to do good. Cesare Beccaria believed that people choose all behavior and criminal choices can be controlled by fear of punishment.

1. Quite a large number of studies have looked at the genetic factors associated with Schizotypal Personality Disorder. From theses studies we have learned that Schizotypal Personality Disorder tends to be more frequent in families where at least one family member has been previously diagnosed with Schizophrenia (Coccaro & Siever, 2005)

2.  Other family studies have revealed impulsive aggression tends to run in families of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, again suggesting a genetic origin for this behavioral tendency (Coccaro & Siever, 2005).

3. While family studies may suggest the genetic transmission of particular behavioral tendencies, these research studies cannot be easily designed to rule out the possibility that such tendencies are transmitted through learning mechanisms. In other words, children may learn to be aggressive simply by observing   other family members behaving that way.  Thus, it is important to look to alternative research methods in order to tease apart genetic influence, from environmental influence.

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· Determine the relationship between these personality disorders and criminal behavior.

References

Weinburg, R.S & Gould, D.S. (1999) Personality and Sport. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology 25-46