Paul Lerner Memorial Master Lecture

Introduction

• Paul Lerner Memorial Master Lecture: First lecture in memory of Paul Lerner, a supporter of the Society for Personality Assessment (SPA).
• Speaker: Dr. Aaron Pincus, Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Aaron Pincus

• Influential in merging research and clinical practice.
• Key areas: Interpersonal theory, personality science, and clinical practice.

Lecture Overview

• Topic: Contemporary interpersonal assessment from personality dispositions to personality dynamics.
• Objective: Honor Paul Lerner's appreciation of the interpersonal context in personality assessment.

Interpersonal Paradigm Founders

• Key figures: Harry Stack Sullivan, Tim Leary, Maury Lohr, Don Kiesler, Bob Carson, Lorna Ben-Jones, Jerry Wiggins, Len Horowitz.
• Impact: Foundational work spanning six decades.

Contemporary Assumptions of Interpersonal Theory

Assumption 1: Interpersonal Situation

• Most important expressions of personality and psychopathology occur in multi-person phenomena.
• Defined as patterns of relating self with others, influencing self-concept and social behavior.

Assumption 2: Interpersonal and Intrapsychic World

• Interpersonal theory includes observable behaviors and mental representations (perceptions, memories, expectancies, fantasies).

Assumption 3: Agency and Communion

• Core constructs: Agency (dominance, submission) and Communion (warmth, hostility).
• Utilized through the interpersonal circle to map interpersonal dispositions and dynamics.

Assumption 4: Reciprocal Influence

• Interpersonal behavior creates reciprocal influences.
• Complementarity: Correspondence on nurturance, reciprocity on dominance.

Interpersonal Pathoplasticity

Enhancing Diagnosis with Interpersonal Dispositions

• Provides a richer context for understanding patients beyond diagnostic labels.
• Helps in predicting therapy outcomes and tailoring treatment.

Examples of Interpersonal Pathoplasticity

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Four subtypes identified with varying worry themes.
• Social Phobia: Two subtypes revealed, differing in therapy response.
• Major Depression and PTSD: Subtypes identified that influence chronicity and functioning.

Assessing Personality Dynamics

Structural Dynamics

• Use multi-surface interpersonal assessment for balance and conflicts within personality.
• Example case: Mr. S, using multiple circles (traits, strengths, values, sensitivities, problems) to unveil dynamics.

Temporal Dynamics

Moment-to-Moment Patterns

• Joystick approach for coding interpersonal behavior, assessing time-series data.

Daily Life Interactions

• Ambulatory assessment via smartphones to capture social interactions in real life.

Future Directions

• Longitudinal studies utilizing repeated assessments to understand variability and long-term change.

Conclusion

• Integration of dynamic interpersonal assessment models holds promise for advancing clinical practice and research.

This summary aims to provide an overview of the key points and themes discussed during the lecture, helping to reinforce the understanding of contemporary approaches in interpersonal assessment and its significance in psychological practice.