Personality and Clinical Psychology – serie

Comprised of five unique and extended case studies, Personality Assessment in Depth examines contemporary clinical problems that are familiar to clinicians, but have not been explored extensively in the personality assessment field. Each case study demonstrates the test protocols of the Rorschach test, Thematic Apperception Test, MMPI or MCMI, and Human Figure Drawings. Important clinical questions and areas of theoretical concern are examined, including differential diagnosis of disorders of affect and personality in light of contemporary viewpoints about these disturbances, personality and adaptation accompanying neuropsychological deficit, and stages of development, including differentiating these from personality characteristics viewed longitudinally, the latter demonstrated by a noteworthy comparison of two evaluations of the same patient, first as a 15-year-old adolescent and then as a 25-year-old adult. A battery of performance and self report personality instruments are applied to the cases, allowing the author to integrate findings across multiple tests and thereby expose clinical psychology students to personality assessment in a broad perspective. Cases are discussed comprehensively, relying on a thorough consideration of thematic content examined alongside formal test scores. Further, the Rorschach findings are examined using both the Exner Comprehensive System and the recently-introduced Rorschach Performance Assessment System approaches. The cases are considered using a broad psychodynamic framework for interpretation, employing classical ego psychology, object relations, and self psychological theoretical perspectives. This is an essential casebook for professionals and students, demonstrating the depth and richness of personality considered alongside the empirical foundations of personality assessment.

Comprised of five unique and extended case studies, Personality Assessment in Depth examines contemporary clinical problems that are familiar to clinicians, but have not been explored extensively in the personality assessment field. Each case study demonstrates the test protocols of the Rorschach test, Thematic Apperception Test, MMPI or MCMI, and Human Figure Drawings. Important clinical questions and areas of theoretical concern are examined, including differential diagnosis of disorders of affect and personality in light of contemporary viewpoints about these disturbances, personality and adaptation accompanying neuropsychological deficit, and stages of development, including differentiating these from personality characteristics viewed longitudinally, the latter demonstrated by a noteworthy comparison of two evaluations of the same patient, first as a 15-year-old adolescent and then as a 25-year-old adult. A battery of performance and self report personality instruments are applied to the cases, allowing the author to integrate findings across multiple tests and thereby expose clinical psychology students to personality assessment in a broad perspective. Cases are discussed comprehensively, relying on a thorough consideration of thematic content examined alongside formal test scores. Further, the Rorschach findings are examined using both the Exner Comprehensive System and the recently-introduced Rorschach Performance Assessment System approaches. The cases are considered using a broad psychodynamic framework for interpretation, employing classical ego psychology, object relations, and self psychological theoretical perspectives. This is an essential casebook for professionals and students, demonstrating the depth and richness of personality considered alongside the empirical foundations of personality assessment.

The first edition of The Human Quest for Meaning was a major publication on the empirical research of meaning in life and its vital role in well-being, resilience, and psychotherapy. This new edition continues that quest and seeks to answer the questions, what is the meaning of life? How do we explain what constitutes meaningful relationships, work, and living?The answers, as the eminent scholars and practitioners who contributed to this text find, are neither simple nor straightforward. While seeking to clarify subjective vs. objective meaning in 21 new and 7 revised chapters, the authors also address the differences in cultural contexts, and identify 8 different sources of meaning, as well as at least 6 different stages in the process of the search for meaning. They also address different perspectives, including positive psychology, self-determination, integrative, narrative, and relational perspectives, to ensure that readers obtain the most thorough information possible. Mental health practitioners will find the numerous meaning-centered interventions, such as the PURE and ABCDE methods, highly useful in their own work with facilitating healing and personal growth in their clients. The Human Quest for Meaning represents a bold new vision for the future of meaning-oriented research and applications. No one seeking to truly understand the human condition should be without it.

This book provides a definitive empirical study of antisocial character pathology and its assessment through the use of the Rorschach. Drawing upon a decade of research with nearly 400 individuals in various hospitals and prisons, the authors paint an extraordinary intrapsychic picture of the personality structure and psychodynamics of these troublesome patients.Serving as both an educational tool and a reference text, this book presents: * Rorschach data on several different antisocial groups -- conduct disordered children and adolescents, antisocial personality disordered adult males with and without schizophrenia, antisocial adult females, and male and female sexual homicide perpetrators; * nomothetic (group) and idiographic (case study) data; * data which have been analyzed and theoretically interpreted using both structural methods and psychoanalytic approaches which represent the cutting edge of Rorschach theory and practice; and* a developmental approach in analyzing Rorschach data gathered from antisocial children, adolescents, and adults -- providing striking similarities. This is the first Rorschach database of this type that has ever been published. As such, it serves as a valuable reference text for Rorschach users -- providing a definitive empirical base, theoretical integration, and a focus on individuals who create severe problems for society.

Memories are the ultimate foundation of testimony in legal settings ranging from criminal trials to divorce mediations and custody hearings. Yet the last decade has seen mounting evidence of various ways in which the accuracy of memories can be distorted on the one hand and enhanced on the other. This book offers a long-awaited comprehensive and balanced overview of what we now understand about children's and adults' eyewitness capabilities--and of the important practical and theoretical implications of this new understanding. The authors, leading clinicians and behavioral scientists with diverse training experiences and points of view, provide insight into the social, cognitive, developmental, and legal factors that affect the accuracy and quality of information obtained in forensic interviews. Armed with the knowledge these chapters convey, practitioners in psychology, psychiatry, social work, criminology, law, and other relevant fields will be better informed about the strengths and limitations of witnesses' accounts; researchers will be better poised to design powerful new studies. Memory and Suggestibility in the Forensic Interview will be a crucial resource for anyone involved in elucidating, interpreting, and reporting the memories of others.

This comprehensive volume brings together the best available clinical scoring systems for thematic apperceptive techniques (TATs), presented in research summaries along with practice stories and available scoring manuals. A Handbook of Clinical Scoring Systems for Thematic Apperceptive Techniques raises awareness about the availability and usefulness of TAT scoring systems for research, training, and clinical practice; provides the materials needed for learning and using the most useful available clinical systems; and facilitates their use by making independent learning and systematic research easier.This book should be in the library of every faculty member and clinical supervisor who is responsible for teaching courses in psychological assessment or supervising assessment students in clinical, counseling, school, or forensic psychology, whether in academic or practice settings, practicum sites, or internships.

Exner's Comprehensive System has attracted so much attention in recent years that many clinicians and personality researchers are unaware that alternative Rorschach scoring systems exist. This is unfortunate, because some of these systems have tremendous clinical value. Scoring the Rorschach: Seven Validated Systems provides detailed reviews of the best-validated alternative approaches, and points to promising new paths towards the continued growth and refinement of Rorschach interpretation.The editors set the stage with an extended introduction to historical controversies and cutting-edge empirical methods for Rorschach validation. Each chapter presents a different Rorschach scoring system. A brief history is followed by detailed information on scoring and interpretation, a comprehensive summary of evidence bearing on construct validity, and discussion of clinical applications, empirical limitations, and future directions. A user-friendly scoring "manual" for each system offers readers practical guidance.The systems tap a broad array of content areas including ego defenses, thought disorder, mental representations of self and others, implicit motives, personality traits, and potential for psychotherapy.All psychologists seriously engaged in the work of personality assessment will find in this book welcome additions to their professional toolkits.

For decades, The Rorschach Inkblot Method (RIM)--the most popular of the projective tests--has been routinely employed for personality assessment and treatment planning. But in recent years, it has not been free from controversy. Criticisms of its validity and empirical support are catalyzing new efforts to strengthen its foundations and document its broad utility. Among the most common--yet also most confusing and challenging--categories of clinical disorders is the personality disorders. However, minimal data have been available on the RIM evaluation of most of those found in DSM-IV. This welcomed book constitutes the first research-grounded, comprehensive guide to the use of the RIM in assessing personality disorders.The first section offers a theoretical overview of personality disorders and constructs a framework and compelling rationale for the legitimate role of the RIM in their assessment. The second, third, and fourth sections present Cluster A disorders--paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal; Cluster B disorders--antisocial and psychopathic, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic; and Cluster C disorders--avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive. The fifth section presents passive aggressive and depressive personality disorders, currently being proposed for DSM inclusion. Each chapter in these four sections includes an extensive description of the disorder, a review of empirical studies of the use of the RIM to assess it, an analysis of the Rorschach variables that may characterize patients diagnosed with it, and a depiction of a real case and discussion of the ways in which the RIM contributed to its formulation. The sixth and final section explores the relationship between psychoanalytic theory and the RIM.Rorschach Assessment of the Personality Disorders brings practical help for clinicians and clinicians-in-training, and suggests new paths for researchers seeking to advance our understanding of the complexities of these disorders.

In The Handbook of Forensic Rorschach Assessment, editors Carl B. Gacono and Barton Evans underscore the unique contribution the Rorschach makes to forensic practice. The chapters, all of which include the expertise of a licensed practicing forensic psychologist, offer a systematic approach to personality assessment when presenting use of the Rorschach in specific forensic contexts.The book opens with essential information related to the scientific and legal basis of the Rorschach. This section covers fundamental elements for preparing informed court testimony, including admissibility of the Rorschach, the authority of the Rorschach, Rorschach assessment of malingering and defensive response, and presenting and defending Rorschach testimony. Part II addresses models for using the Rorschach in typical forensic evaluations in both criminal and civil cases. The section to follow presents updated references samples for various forensic populations. Gacono and Evans conclude with useful models for the Rorschach use in specialized areas of forensic practice, such as battered women, immigration court assessment, assessing impaired professionals, and working within the field of police psychology.The Handbook of Forensic Rorschach Assessment is a comprehensive resource designed to guide psychologists in their forensic practice.Covert art by Carl B. Gacono

Memories are the ultimate foundation of testimony in legal settings ranging from criminal trials to divorce mediations and custody hearings. Yet the last decade has seen mounting evidence of various ways in which the accuracy of memories can be distorted on the one hand and enhanced on the other. This book offers a long-awaited comprehensive and balanced overview of what we now understand about children's and adults' eyewitness capabilities--and of the important practical and theoretical implications of this new understanding. The authors, leading clinicians and behavioral scientists with diverse training experiences and points of view, provide insight into the social, cognitive, developmental, and legal factors that affect the accuracy and quality of information obtained in forensic interviews. Armed with the knowledge these chapters convey, practitioners in psychology, psychiatry, social work, criminology, law, and other relevant fields will be better informed about the strengths and limitations of witnesses' accounts; researchers will be better poised to design powerful new studies. Memory and Suggestibility in the Forensic Interview will be a crucial resource for anyone involved in elucidating, interpreting, and reporting the memories of others.

The first edition of The Human Quest for Meaning was a major publication on the empirical research of meaning in life and its vital role in well-being, resilience, and psychotherapy. This new edition continues that quest and seeks to answer the questions, what is the meaning of life? How do we explain what constitutes meaningful relationships, work, and living?The answers, as the eminent scholars and practitioners who contributed to this text find, are neither simple nor straightforward. While seeking to clarify subjective vs. objective meaning in 21 new and 7 revised chapters, the authors also address the differences in cultural contexts, and identify 8 different sources of meaning, as well as at least 6 different stages in the process of the search for meaning. They also address different perspectives, including positive psychology, self-determination, integrative, narrative, and relational perspectives, to ensure that readers obtain the most thorough information possible. Mental health practitioners will find the numerous meaning-centered interventions, such as the PURE and ABCDE methods, highly useful in their own work with facilitating healing and personal growth in their clients. The Human Quest for Meaning represents a bold new vision for the future of meaning-oriented research and applications. No one seeking to truly understand the human condition should be without it.

This comprehensive volume brings together the best available clinical scoring systems for thematic apperceptive techniques (TATs), presented in research summaries along with practice stories and available scoring manuals. A Handbook of Clinical Scoring Systems for Thematic Apperceptive Techniques raises awareness about the availability and usefulness of TAT scoring systems for research, training, and clinical practice; provides the materials needed for learning and using the most useful available clinical systems; and facilitates their use by making independent learning and systematic research easier.This book should be in the library of every faculty member and clinical supervisor who is responsible for teaching courses in psychological assessment or supervising assessment students in clinical, counseling, school, or forensic psychology, whether in academic or practice settings, practicum sites, or internships.

In The Handbook of Forensic Rorschach Assessment, editors Carl B. Gacono and Barton Evans underscore the unique contribution the Rorschach makes to forensic practice. The chapters, all of which include the expertise of a licensed practicing forensic psychologist, offer a systematic approach to personality assessment when presenting use of the Rorschach in specific forensic contexts.The book opens with essential information related to the scientific and legal basis of the Rorschach. This section covers fundamental elements for preparing informed court testimony, including admissibility of the Rorschach, the authority of the Rorschach, Rorschach assessment of malingering and defensive response, and presenting and defending Rorschach testimony. Part II addresses models for using the Rorschach in typical forensic evaluations in both criminal and civil cases. The section to follow presents updated references samples for various forensic populations. Gacono and Evans conclude with useful models for the Rorschach use in specialized areas of forensic practice, such as battered women, immigration court assessment, assessing impaired professionals, and working within the field of police psychology.The Handbook of Forensic Rorschach Assessment is a comprehensive resource designed to guide psychologists in their forensic practice.Covert art by Carl B. Gacono

For decades, The Rorschach Inkblot Method (RIM)--the most popular of the projective tests--has been routinely employed for personality assessment and treatment planning. But in recent years, it has not been free from controversy. Criticisms of its validity and empirical support are catalyzing new efforts to strengthen its foundations and document its broad utility. Among the most common--yet also most confusing and challenging--categories of clinical disorders is the personality disorders. However, minimal data have been available on the RIM evaluation of most of those found in DSM-IV. This welcomed book constitutes the first research-grounded, comprehensive guide to the use of the RIM in assessing personality disorders.The first section offers a theoretical overview of personality disorders and constructs a framework and compelling rationale for the legitimate role of the RIM in their assessment. The second, third, and fourth sections present Cluster A disorders--paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal; Cluster B disorders--antisocial and psychopathic, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic; and Cluster C disorders--avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive. The fifth section presents passive aggressive and depressive personality disorders, currently being proposed for DSM inclusion. Each chapter in these four sections includes an extensive description of the disorder, a review of empirical studies of the use of the RIM to assess it, an analysis of the Rorschach variables that may characterize patients diagnosed with it, and a depiction of a real case and discussion of the ways in which the RIM contributed to its formulation. The sixth and final section explores the relationship between psychoanalytic theory and the RIM.Rorschach Assessment of the Personality Disorders brings practical help for clinicians and clinicians-in-training, and suggests new paths for researchers seeking to advance our understanding of the complexities of these disorders.

Exner's Comprehensive System has attracted so much attention in recent years that many clinicians and personality researchers are unaware that alternative Rorschach scoring systems exist. This is unfortunate, because some of these systems have tremendous clinical value. Scoring the Rorschach: Seven Validated Systems provides detailed reviews of the best-validated alternative approaches, and points to promising new paths towards the continued growth and refinement of Rorschach interpretation.The editors set the stage with an extended introduction to historical controversies and cutting-edge empirical methods for Rorschach validation. Each chapter presents a different Rorschach scoring system. A brief history is followed by detailed information on scoring and interpretation, a comprehensive summary of evidence bearing on construct validity, and discussion of clinical applications, empirical limitations, and future directions. A user-friendly scoring "manual" for each system offers readers practical guidance.The systems tap a broad array of content areas including ego defenses, thought disorder, mental representations of self and others, implicit motives, personality traits, and potential for psychotherapy.All psychologists seriously engaged in the work of personality assessment will find in this book welcome additions to their professional toolkits.