Personlighedsforstyrrelser og den interpersonelle cirkel

Abstract

Hougaard, E. (1993). Personality disorders and the interpersonal circle. Nordisk Psykologi, 45, 81–96.

DSM-III's axis II has been criticized for its categorical, “disease-entity” conception of personality disorders, and for its lacking relationship to psychological theory. Since personality disorders in DSM-III are defined in terms of inflexible and maladaptive personality traits, psychological trait models should be a convenient place to search for candidates to a dimensional, psychological alternative or supplement to the categorical psychiatric diagnoses. Leary's interpersonal circle especially has been in the searchlight as such a candidate. The paper reviews the relationship between DSM-III's personality disorders and the interpersonal circle in light of newer research on personality traits. Empirical findings support theoretical asumptions of characteristic interpersonal trait dimensions of most personality disorder diagnoses. The relationship, however, is found to be less specific than assumed by interpersonal theory. It is concluded that although interpersonal circle models probably could make a valuable contribution to the personality disorder area, the two dimensions of the model (control and affiliation) are insufficient for a comprehensive taxonomic model for the personality disorders.