HPD HPD Psychological Theories 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to psychoanalytic theory, HPD is linked to fixation at which psychosexual stage?
- Oral stage
- Anal stage
- Phallic stage (Correct answer)
- Genital stage
Correct answer: Phallic stage
Psychoanalytic theory associates HPD with fixation or conflict at the phallic stage (Oedipal/Electra period), resulting in attention-seeking and seductiveness.
Question 2: In attachment theory, HPD is most commonly associated with which attachment style?
- Secure attachment
- Anxious-preoccupied attachment (Correct answer)
- Dismissive-avoidant attachment
- Disorganized attachment
Correct answer: Anxious-preoccupied attachment
HPD is most associated with anxious-preoccupied attachment, characterized by hyperactivation of the attachment system and excessive need for closeness.
Question 3: Cognitive theory explains HPD's core beliefs as centering on which assumptions?
- The world is dangerous and I must protect myself
- I am unlovable unless I am entertaining and attractive to others (Correct answer)
- I must be perfect to have any worth
- Others will always betray me
Correct answer: I am unlovable unless I am entertaining and attractive to others
Aaron Beck identified HPD's core cognitive schema as 'I am unlovable unless I am captivating, charming, or entertaining to others.'
Question 4: Object relations theory interprets HPD's attention-seeking as stemming from:
- Overabundance of early mirroring by caregivers
- Inadequate early mirroring and a fragile sense of self that requires external validation (Correct answer)
- Complete absence of attachment to early caregivers
- Genetically programmed social display behaviors
Correct answer: Inadequate early mirroring and a fragile sense of self that requires external validation
Object relations theorists view HPD attention-seeking as compensating for inadequate early mirroring, leaving the person dependent on external validation for self-cohesion.
Question 5: From an evolutionary psychology perspective, some theorists have proposed that HPD traits may represent an exaggerated version of:
- Dominance-seeking strategies
- Short-term mating and signaling strategies (Correct answer)
- Kin-protection behaviors
- Status-through-competence strategies
Correct answer: Short-term mating and signaling strategies
Evolutionary psychologists have proposed that HPD traits may represent an exaggeration of short-term mating strategies involving attention-getting signals and social display.
Question 6: Which cognitive distortion is most characteristic of HPD according to cognitive-behavioral models?
- All-or-nothing thinking and rigid black-white categorization
- Selective attention to being unnoticed combined with global positive self-evaluation when admired (Correct answer)
- Catastrophizing about physical symptoms
- Minimization of positive social feedback
Correct answer: Selective attention to being unnoticed combined with global positive self-evaluation when admired
HPD involves selective attention to threats of being overlooked and dramatic shifts between feeling special when admired and distress when unnoticed.
HPD HPD Psychological Theories 1
According to psychoanalytic theory, HPD is linked to fixation at which psychosexual stage?