Cited by 173Personality Disorders and PsychopathologyPersonality Traits and PsychologyMental Health Research Topics

Personality and Psychopathology: A Stagnant Field in Need of Development

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Durbin, C. Emily, Hicks, Brian M.·2014·European Journal of Personality

Abstract

A dominant paradigm in psychopathology research proposes that individual differences in personality are centrally involved in the origins and manifestations of psychopathology, and structural models of personality and psychopathology have been extremely useful in helping to organize associations among many traits and disorders. However, these models merely describe patterns of covariation; they do not explain the processes by which these patterns emerge. We argue that the field is stagnated, as it is overly focused on the demonstration of concurrent associations and on confirming a spectrum model that proposes traits and disorders are manifestations of the same underlying constructs. We contend that if the field is to move towards an understanding of causal processes, it must integrate knowledge and principles of personality development and developmental psychopathology. To begin this integration, we review (i) normative trends in personality change, (ii) age–related changes in the prevalence of disorders, and (iii) the impact of onset and chronicity on the severity of disorders. We propose several developmental processes that may contribute to the co–development of personality and psychopathology. We then present novel empirical findings to illustrate how a developmental perspective on traits and disorders can inform new hypotheses and propose principles and hypotheses that should guide future research. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

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  • The major current limitation in self-esteem development research is the understanding of processes of change.

    “The major current limitation in the research area of self-esteem development is our understanding of the processes of change.”

    From Self‐esteem development and life events: A review and integrative process framework (2022) · cites this paper as Durbin & Hicks, 2014

    The Conclusions (page unavailable) say that research on personality and psychopathology has emphasized structure over processes, leaving mechanistic questions largely unanswered. The section on normative personality change mentions self-esteem trajectories, but the paper does not identify understanding change processes as the major limitation of self-esteem development research specifically. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • This pathway is consistent with a complex trauma framework in which chronic interpersonal trauma alters the course of personality development, particularly when such trauma is experienced early in life.

    “This pathway is consistent with a complex trauma framework in which chronic interpersonal trauma alters the course of personality development, particularly when such trauma is experienced early in life (Durbin & Hicks, 2014).”

    From Childhood Physical Abuse and Antisocial Traits: Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Clusters (2022) · cites this paper as Durbin & Hicks, 2014

    The ‘Processes Contributing to Trait-Disorder Co-development’ section says stressful events can act as developmental pressures and that unsuccessful adaptation may lead to deterioration in personality functioning. It does not discuss a complex trauma framework or establish that chronic interpersonal trauma, particularly early in life, alters personality development. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Hicks BM Iacono WG McGue M Childhood personality traits predict substance use disorders in adolescence and young adulthood: Comparing Big Three traits, socialization, and boldness Under review
  2. Hicks BM Zucker RA Lewis M Rudolph K (in press) Alcoholism: A lifespan perspective on etiology and course Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology 3 New York Springer

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Authors
Durbin, C. E., & Hicks, B. M.
Affiliations
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
  • Durbin, C. Emily
  • Hicks, Brian M.
Venue
European Journal of Personality
Published
2014-07
Volume
28
Issue
4
Pages
362-386
ISSN
  • 0890-2070 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-0984
OpenAlex
W1880651181
Cited by
173
References
177
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2
FWCI
14.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Journal of Personality (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5u01da024417-02)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA009367, R37AA009367)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (U01-DA024417, R01DA024417, K01DA025868, R01DA036216, R37DA005147, R01DA034606)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
Keywords
personality and psychopathology, developmental psychopathology, personality development, spectrum model, chronicity, disorder severity, causal processes

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