Advancing a Three-Tier Personality Framework for Posttraumatic Growth

Adversity has been assumed to foster positive personality change under certain conditions. In this article, we examine this assumption within the context of the three-tier personality framework integrating traits, characteristic adaptations, and narrative identity to provide a comprehensive understanding of personality growth. We first review findings on how adverse events affect personality on each of these three levels. Second, we summarize knowledge on event-based and person-based predictors of personality change in the face of adversity. Third, we specify affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes that explain personality change across levels of personality. Innovatively, our proposed process model addresses change at all three levels of personality, as well as similarities and differences in processes across the levels. We conclude by discussing unresolved issues, asking critical questions, and posing challenging hypotheses for testing this framework.

Why Do People Divorce Late in Life? Swedish Gray Divorce Narratives

Divorce rates for people 60+ has increased in many parts of the Western world in what has been described as a “grey divorce revolution”. In Sweden these divorce rates have more than doubled since the millennium. But why do people choose to divorce late in life and what is the impact of life phase typical transitions? Qualitative interviews with 37 Swedish men and women (aged 62-81) divorced after the age of 60 were collected, covering themes regarding the divorce process: motives for and experiences of divorce, and life as grey divorcee. The results by thematic analysis show that motives for divorcing earlier in the life-course, such as abuse, unfaithfulness and addiction are prevalent also among older people. However, they tend to be framed differently in later life and be integrated into divorce narratives informed by age. We identified four life phase typical narratives for divorce: 1) Lack of a common project for the third age. 2) Partners personality change due to age related disease. 3) Increased freedom after empty-nest allowing emancipation from a dominant partner. 4) A final romantic adventure as a form of rejuvenation. All these life-phase typical narratives are related to the third age as a time of self-fulfillment, where the partner can either be part of or an obstacle to that project. The results will be used to discuss current older cohorts’ views of family norms and later life from the perspective that current older cohorts participated in the divorce revolution in the 1970s as young adults.

Can Ecological Momentary Assessments Be Used as Daily Markers of Personality Traits?

This study hypothesized that select ecological momentary assessment (EMA) survey items are sensitive to day-to-day fluctuations in personality traits Extraversion (E) and Neuroticism (N). As part of the Einstein Aging Study, 312 older adults (Mage=76.96 years, SD=4.85 years, range=70-90 years) completed up to 5 EMA surveys per day for 16 days and a Big Five trait personality measure. Parallel two-factor multilevel confirmatory factor analyses were conducted for E (Daily-E; Trait-E) and N (Daily-N; Trait-N). The E model showed good fit (CFI=.95; TLI=.94; RMSEA=.02) and a significant correlation of .20 between Daily-E and Trait-E factors. The N model showed poor fit (CFI=.68; TLI=.61; RMSEA=.06). Results suggest EMA items can be used as daily markers of Extraversion, yet results are unclear for Neuroticism due to poor model fit. Daily markers of Extraversion can be used to detect fluctuations in personality traits across days that may predict long-term personality change.

Personality Change Profiles and Changes in Cognition Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Previous research on the relationship between personality traits and cognitive abilities has primarily focused on cross-sectional studies or on specific personality traits in relation to selected cognitive dimensions. The present study extends existing research by exploring associations among 20-year personality change profiles and 10-year cognitive change in middle-aged and older adults. The present study included 2,652 participants of the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS) ranging in age between 20 - 74 years (M = 46.61, SD = 11.26) at the first of the three measurement occasions. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to capture profiles of change across the Big Five personality traits of extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and emotional stability combined. Results of the LPA identified three personality change subgroups: Decreasers, Maintainers, and Increasers. Across the 20 years, the Decreasers showed greater decreases on the Big Five personality traits, the Maintainers remained mostly stable, and the Increasers showed greater personality trait increases. Also, the Maintainers and Decreasers were significantly older than the Increasers. Longitudinal multilevel models were used to examine the relationship between these three personality change profiles and cognitive change. Age, sex, education, physical activity, functional health, and self-rated health were added as covariates. Results show that cognitive decline was greater for the Decreasers and less for the Increasers compared to the other personality change profiles. The results have implications for developing interventions to target personality trait change in middle and later adulthood as a potential means for reducing declines in cognitive functioning.

Change, Correlates, and Structure of Personality Across Adulthood

Personality is both stable and changing across the lifespan. However, many questions remain about the factors that account for individual differences in change, the consequences of personality for life outcomes, and how best to assess personality at different points in the lifespan. First, Olivia Atherton will discuss research on the development of the Big Five personality traits from young adulthood to midlife with a sample of Mexican-origin individuals, as well as sociodemographic and cultural predictors of personality change in this population. Second, Bill Chopik uses data from 90 countries to examine the consistency of age differences in positive personality traits in the second half of life, from midlife to old age, as well as how cultural characteristics moderate the terminal decline in positive personality traits. Third, Emorie Beck will present research demonstrating that personality traits from the Big Five to beyond are robustly associated with a number of key life events across countries, decades, sociodemographic moderators, and even when controlling for selection bias. Finally, Josh Jackson uses network psychometric techniques to examine coherence and differentiation among indicators of the Big Five from 14 to 85 in a large multinational sample, tracking age differences with consequences for the assessment of personality traits in older adulthood. We will conclude with a panel discussion of emerging issues in personality change, prediction, and assessment across adulthood, with each speaker providing unique experience and insight into the study of each area.

They Affect the Person, but for Better or Worse? Perceptions of Electroceutical Interventions for Depression Among Psychiatrists, Patients, and the Public

Responding to reports of cases of personality change following deep brain stimulation, neuroethicists have debated the nature and ethical implications of these changes. Recently, this literature has been challenged as being overblown and therefore potentially an impediment to patients accessing needed treatment. We interviewed 16 psychiatrists, 16 patients with depression, and 16 members of the public without depression, all from the Midwestern United States, about their views on how three electroceutical interventions (deep brain stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation) used to treat depression might affect the self. Participants were also asked to compare the electroceuticals’ effects on the self with the effects of commonly used depression treatments (psychotherapy and pharmaceuticals). Using qualitative content analysis, we found that participants’ views on electroceuticals’ potential effects on the self mainly focused on treatment effectiveness and side effects. Our results have implications for both theoretical discussions in neuroethics and clinical practice in psychiatry.

Psychotic Features as Initial Presentation of Intracranial Epidermoid of Suprasellar Origin

Intracranial epidermoids are rare congenital lesions which account for around 1% of all intracranial tumors. They present most commonly in cerebello-pontine angle followed by suprasellar region, along with different intracranial areas. The most common presentation includes headache, cranial nerve deficiets, seizures, raised intracranial pressure. It is extremely uncommon for epidermoid tumors to present with psychiatric symptoms. We present a case of 38 year old female with history of psychosis for 2 years with personality change, disorganised behavior and delusions. An episode of increased sedation and semi-consciousness led to neuroimaging which revealed a large epidermoid tumor of suprasellar region and interpeduncular region. Surgical resection of the epidermoid was done and patient was maintained on drug treatment. Keywords: Epidermoid tumour, Psychosis