Case StudyCase StudyMadelineMadeline

Experts in personality assessment Experts in personality assessment interpret the same person’s life and interpret the same person’s life and personalitypersonality

Madeline agreed to participateMadeline agreed to participate Took a variety of personality Took a variety of personality

assessment measures and assessment measures and participated in an interviewparticipated in an interview

McAdams – Personological McAdams – Personological AssessmentAssessment

The life story of Madeline GThe life story of Madeline G

Asked to provide an outline of the main Asked to provide an outline of the main “chapters” of her life story“chapters” of her life story

Describe at least 8 key scenes (e.g. high point, Describe at least 8 key scenes (e.g. high point, low point, turning point, earliest memory)low point, turning point, earliest memory)

Identify best and worst characters in the storyIdentify best and worst characters in the story Imagine what the future chapters of the story will Imagine what the future chapters of the story will

look likelook like Identify the story’s main themes or messagesIdentify the story’s main themes or messages Purpose is to identify how subject makes sense Purpose is to identify how subject makes sense

out of her lifeout of her life

Madeline’s life storyMadeline’s life story

35 y/o F working in Albuquerque as a 35 y/o F working in Albuquerque as a defense attorneydefense attorney

Earns over 70,000Earns over 70,000 Legally single but has “common-law” Legally single but has “common-law”

husband of 6 years. He is a husband of 6 years. He is a professor. No kidsprofessor. No kids

Member of Navaho tribeMember of Navaho tribe

Madeline’s life storyMadeline’s life story

Three large chaptersThree large chapters

1.1. childhoodchildhood

2.2. jailjail

3.3. the presentthe present

childhoodchildhood

One of 3 children, 2 girls & a boyOne of 3 children, 2 girls & a boy Grew up in small town in New MexicoGrew up in small town in New Mexico ““no babies in this family” “We were born, and no babies in this family” “We were born, and

they put boots on you and you went to work.” – they put boots on you and you went to work.” – had to work hard; had many choreshad to work hard; had many chores

Describes lack of warmth by parents, lots of Describes lack of warmth by parents, lots of violence, and neglectviolence, and neglect

Both parents had serious drinking problemsBoth parents had serious drinking problems Father often violent—beat children and wifeFather often violent—beat children and wife Neighbors and school officials were aware of Neighbors and school officials were aware of

violence but looked the other wayviolence but looked the other way

Childhood continuedChildhood continued

Madeline indicated that she drank Madeline indicated that she drank heavily as a young child: brining heavily as a young child: brining whiskey to school in a thermos in 3whiskey to school in a thermos in 3rdrd gradegrade

Often in trouble with law and at Often in trouble with law and at schoolschool

By age 12 no longer lived at home By age 12 no longer lived at home (not clear where she did live)(not clear where she did live)

JailJail

11stst became jailed early in teen years became jailed early in teen years Spent much of teenage years in jail; doesn’t Spent much of teenage years in jail; doesn’t

say what her offenses were: “I did say what her offenses were: “I did everything.”everything.”

Drug and alcohol abuse, theft, and fightingDrug and alcohol abuse, theft, and fighting Says more about what happened in jail. Says more about what happened in jail.

Fought a lot. In solitary confinement. Fought a lot. In solitary confinement. Fantasized about having a “perfect family.” Fantasized about having a “perfect family.” Began to read books and educate herself.Began to read books and educate herself.

Reading was a turning point. Decided to Reading was a turning point. Decided to “never go back.”“never go back.”

The presentThe present

Moved to a new state, worked as a waitress, Moved to a new state, worked as a waitress, found an apartment. found an apartment.

Started classes at a community college.Started classes at a community college. Married & divorced in her 20s. Relationship Married & divorced in her 20s. Relationship

was never good, based on “good sex.”was never good, based on “good sex.” Admitted to Ivy League university; received Admitted to Ivy League university; received

advanced degrees in social work and law.advanced degrees in social work and law. Very successful as a lawyer; often represents Very successful as a lawyer; often represents

Native AmericansNative Americans

Key ScenesKey Scenes

High Point – graduation partyHigh Point – graduation party““I did it right here, right now, and I did it right here, right now, and everybody helped me. I did it, and I’m everybody helped me. I did it, and I’m gonna be okay.”gonna be okay.”

Low Point – wanting to kill father but Low Point – wanting to kill father but realizing that she is not able torealizing that she is not able to

Turning Point – Turning Point – 1.1. Meeting current partner; relationship endedMeeting current partner; relationship ended2.2. Admitted to the bar – eagle featherAdmitted to the bar – eagle feather3.3. Falling in love with current partnerFalling in love with current partner

Key Scenes continuedKey Scenes continued

Early MemoriesEarly Memories Father shot motherFather shot mother Mother stabbed father in throat with scissorsMother stabbed father in throat with scissors Mother tried to kill self; madeline tried to kiss Mother tried to kill self; madeline tried to kiss

her in hospital but mother wouldn’t let herher in hospital but mother wouldn’t let her Adolescent MemoryAdolescent Memory

Fight in prison, hosed down, realized she was Fight in prison, hosed down, realized she was becoming like fatherbecoming like father

Adulthood MemoryAdulthood Memory Sitting on top of car looking at sky in kansas; Sitting on top of car looking at sky in kansas;

felt happyfelt happy

Challenges & ThemesChallenges & Themes

Greatest challenge: Become a better Greatest challenge: Become a better personperson

Greatest positive & negative Greatest positive & negative characters: boyfriend and fathercharacters: boyfriend and father

Upbeat futureUpbeat future Central theme: survivalCentral theme: survival

3 levels of person3 levels of person

1.1. Dispositional traitsDispositional traits

2.2. Characteristic motivational, social-Characteristic motivational, social-cognitive, & developmental cognitive, & developmental adaptationsadaptations

3.3. Integrative life storyIntegrative life story

Dispositional traitsDispositional traits

BFI: BFI: Very high Extraversion, Conscientiousness, & Very high Extraversion, Conscientiousness, &

Openness to ExperienceOpenness to Experience

Assertive, outgoing, energetic, brash, dominantAssertive, outgoing, energetic, brash, dominant Rebelled against conventional norms, very Rebelled against conventional norms, very

liberal, open to new ideasliberal, open to new ideas Hard-working, sets clear goals, ?? of goals and Hard-working, sets clear goals, ?? of goals and

discipline during childhooddiscipline during childhood

22ndnd level level

Personal strivings – 8 of 10 are for powerPersonal strivings – 8 of 10 are for power ““impress other people”impress other people” ““win every argument”win every argument” ““come in first in whatever I attempt”come in first in whatever I attempt”

Implicit desire for intimate relationships, but Implicit desire for intimate relationships, but not cooperative or compliant in not cooperative or compliant in relationshipsrelationships

Sees herself as caring and nurturantSees herself as caring and nurturant Caring comes out in bold action rather than cooperationCaring comes out in bold action rather than cooperation Working on intimate relationshipsWorking on intimate relationships

33rdrd level - identity level - identity

Redemption: bad events are Redemption: bad events are overcome and she is committed to overcome and she is committed to new set of valuesnew set of values

““All kinds of interesting things are All kinds of interesting things are happening now, born out of real shit.”happening now, born out of real shit.”

Plans to benefit self and the wider Plans to benefit self and the wider world in future (generativity)world in future (generativity)

Empirical Assessment – Empirical Assessment – MMPI-2 MMPI-2

Notable elevation on scale 9 (mania)Notable elevation on scale 9 (mania) Correlates: tendency toward over-activity; Correlates: tendency toward over-activity; unrealistic self-appraisal; energetic & talkative; unrealistic self-appraisal; energetic & talkative; prefer action to thought; creative, enterprising, prefer action to thought; creative, enterprising,

& ingenious, but little interest in routine or & ingenious, but little interest in routine or details; get bored & restless easily; details; get bored & restless easily;

difficulty inhibiting expression of impulses, difficulty inhibiting expression of impulses, aggressive outbursts are common; aggressive outbursts are common;

think nothing is impossible, not able to see think nothing is impossible, not able to see their own limitationstheir own limitations

MMPI-2MMPI-2

Scale 4: antisocial tendencies, Scale 4: antisocial tendencies, alienation from family, substance alienation from family, substance abuse, propensity to be angry and abuse, propensity to be angry and hostilehostile

Little or no psychological distressLittle or no psychological distress Unrealistically optimisticUnrealistically optimistic Grandiose ideas about selfGrandiose ideas about self

Costa & Piedmont – NEO PI-Costa & Piedmont – NEO PI-RR

Madeline and partner complete NEO PI-RMadeline and partner complete NEO PI-R Tends to be extremeTends to be extreme

Agreement on high Extraversion, Agreement on high Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Antagonism Openness to Experience, and Antagonism (low Agreeableness)(low Agreeableness)

=strong, assertive personality that can =strong, assertive personality that can easily imagine possibilities, may come easily imagine possibilities, may come across as brusqueacross as brusque

NEO PI-RNEO PI-R Self-report and partner report differ on two domainsSelf-report and partner report differ on two domains Partner observes more negative affect than Madeline Partner observes more negative affect than Madeline

noted.noted. Could be that he sees more of the distressed side Could be that he sees more of the distressed side

of her (given their intimacy), of which she is not of her (given their intimacy), of which she is not aware.aware.

She interprets herself as manipulative whereas he She interprets herself as manipulative whereas he sees her as having difficulty copingsees her as having difficulty coping

ConscientiousnessConscientiousness He sees her as less capable, not following through He sees her as less capable, not following through

on things, and lacking on motivation.on things, and lacking on motivation. Obviously she has been persistent and motivated Obviously she has been persistent and motivated

to achieve success in law arena. His low ratings to achieve success in law arena. His low ratings may be due to focus on her conscientiousness in may be due to focus on her conscientiousness in the intimate interpersonal context.the intimate interpersonal context.

May be somewhere in between each ratingMay be somewhere in between each rating

Summary based on NEOSummary based on NEO

antagonistic, suspicious of others, prefers antagonistic, suspicious of others, prefers competition rather than cooperation (low A)competition rather than cooperation (low A)

Active and energetic, enjoys company of Active and energetic, enjoys company of others, tends to be forceful, sociable, others, tends to be forceful, sociable, talkative, but not warm or affectionate. talkative, but not warm or affectionate. (high E)(high E)

Imaginative, creative, daring, independent, Imaginative, creative, daring, independent, nontraditional (0)nontraditional (0)

Able to deal with stress but experiences Able to deal with stress but experiences some guilt, anger and sadnesssome guilt, anger and sadness

Profile matching with Profile matching with personality disorderspersonality disorders

Antisocial and narcissistic personalityAntisocial and narcissistic personality Not dependentNot dependent See profilesSee profiles

SummarySummary

Remarkable convergence of evidence Remarkable convergence of evidence (with a few places of divergence) (with a few places of divergence) despite vastly different assessment despite vastly different assessment tools and approachestools and approaches