Construct Validation Theory Applied to the Study of Personality Dysfunction

Tamika C.B. Zapolski, Leila Guller, Gregory T. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The authors review theory validation and construct validation principles as related to the study of personality dysfunction. Historically, personality disorders have been understood to be syndromes of heterogeneous symptoms. The authors argue that the syndrome approach to description results in diagnoses of unclear meaning and constrained validity. The alternative approach of describing personality dysfunction in terms of homogeneous dimensions of functioning avoids the problems of the syndromal approach and has been shown to provide more valid description and diagnosis. The authors further argue that description based on homogeneous dimensions of personality function/dysfunction is more useful because it provides direct connections to validated treatments.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1507-1531
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Personality
Volume80
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology

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