Personality Disorders
Syllabus, 2015
Psych Disorders
Mr. Aiello
Personality Disorders
Unit Syllabus
The Personality Disorders are frequently portrayed in characters in movies and television. This is
partly because, in the case of many of the specific types of personality disorders, their symptoms
are only incrementally ‘worse’ than our own, and in the case of several others, they are so
attractive and repulsive at the same time. A disproportionate percentage of Academy Awards
have been given to films and actors who portrayed characters with personality disorders. This
unit will explore some of these phenomena by using the film “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and
student presentations.
There will be two separate assignments for you to complete for points during this unit. The first
one is a brief group presentation, and the second is to answer the Unit Questions below.
Unit Questions
1. What would be the most effective treatment for people with Cluster A Personality Disorders?
Why?
2. What qualities of the Cluster B disorders make them the most common Personality Disorders
found in jail and prisons?
3. Why do many of the films portraying Personality Disorders exhibit some of the most
compelling and memorable characters?
4. Explain the differences between Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopath/Sociopath.
Night
Homeplay
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Read Myers overview and Seligman overview.
Thursday,
Feb. 19
Work on your Personality Disorders Clusters Assignment.
Friday,
Feb. 20
Complete your Personality Disorders Clusters Assignment. Make sure
that someone from the group shares the presentation with Mr. Aiello
before 8:00 pm on Sunday evening.
Monday,
Feb. 23
Wahl, “Chapter Four: Murder and Mayhem.”
Tuesday,
Feb. 24
Wahl, “Chapter Four: Murder and Mayhem.”
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Young, “Psychopathology, Psychotherapy, and Psycho – Psychologists
and Their Patients in the Movies.”
Thursday,
Feb. 26
Young, “Psychopathology, Psychotherapy, and Psycho – Psychologists
and Their Patients in the Movies.”
Friday,
Feb. 27
Complete your Unit Questions to turn in Monday.
Personality Disorders
Syllabus, 2015
Psych Disorders
Mr. Aiello
Personality Disorders Clusters Assignment
Each group is responsible for researching, preparing, and presenting a 10 - 12 minute explanation
of their assigned cluster of Personality Disorders. The presentation will 1) explain why the
individual types have been grouped together, 2) provide clear explanations of the individual types
of disorders, and 3) give the audience examples from film, television, or popular culture to
illustrate each of the individual types of Personality Disorders. 4) Each presentation will use
some organized medium to visually present their ideas (powerpoint, handouts, ELMO projector,
etc.). All group members will receive the same grade unless an individual’s participation is
significantly above or below the rest of the group’s effort and performance.
1)
2)
3)
4)
10 points
15 points
15 points
10 points
50 points
Cluster A (odd or eccentric behavior) - paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders
Numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16
Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior) – antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and
narcissistic personality disorders
Numbers 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17
Cluster C (anxious or fearful behavior) – avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive
personality disorders
Numbers 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18