Final answer:
Personality traits significantly influence the likelihood of developing certain disorders, with traits like neuroticism being linked to chronic health issues and increased mortality. The DSM is used to diagnose personality disorders which are prevalent in around 9% of the US population. Personality comprises cardinal, central, and secondary traits, affecting overall behavior and susceptibility to disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Role of Personality Traits in Disorders
Personality traits have been shown to play a significant role in the emergence and management of various health conditions, leading researchers to explore the connection further in clinical psychology. Studies by Friedman and Booth-Kewley and subsequent researchers like Mykletun et al. and Ploubidis & Grundy associate traits such as depression, anger, hostility, anxiety, and especially neuroticism with an increased risk for chronic health issues and mortality. This association suggests that specific personality characteristics might make individuals more susceptible to certain disorders.
The concept of a personality disorder itself is centered around enduring, inflexible patterns of behavior that deviate from societal norms and cause significant distress or impairment. As indicated by research statistics, these disorders impact around 9% of the US population annually. The American Psychological Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary guide for diagnosing these conditions, despite the controversies and challenges in classification that remain.
Further supporting these findings, trait theorists like Allport have categorized personality traits into cardinal, central, and secondary traits, arguing that these traits are intrinsic to our behavioral patterns. Childhood adversity has also been highlighted as a contributing factor to the development of personality disorders, thus emphasizing the multifaceted nature of these disorders and their roots in both individual personality and environmental influences.