Linking Unpredictability Schema to Socioemotional Personality Functioning – Disgust Proneness and Personality Dysfunctions

Abstract

Life history theory posits that behavioural adaptation to unpredictable environmental (ecological and/or social) conditions encountered during childhood not only affect dispositional social and emotional functioning, but may also promote the development of personality traits linked to higher rates of instability in social relationships or more self-interested behaviour. An emerging concept of psychopathology suggest, that adaptive and maladaptive personality processes represent a continuum and not distinct categories.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of childhood and current psychosocial and socioeconomic conditions on personality functions and identify the different patterns of dysfunctional development. Maladaptive personality features were suggested to build different clusters with interpersonal problems, and normal range traits according to the differences in personality trait patterns (i.e., the factors of The Personality Inventory for DSM-5—Brief Form or Level of Personality Functioning Scale).

This study utilized self-report measures including the PID-5 BF and LoPFS to capture personality disfunctions, together with the Unpredictability Schema Questionnaire to indicate the level of early-life unpredictability and measures of different facets of disgust.

Results indicate significance associations between more pronounced unpredictability schema and more expressed maladaptive personality traits and personality disfunctions. Moreover, disgust appears to be a key and maybe moderating factor in this relationship.