Borderline features are associated with inaccurate trait self-estimations.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) treatments often assume distorted self-perceptions are central to the disorder.
• Existing research on perceptual distortions in BPD yields mixed results, with some studies showing inaccuracy and others enhanced accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if individuals with BPD features exhibit less accurate self-estimations of universal personality traits compared to general population norms.
• To explore the relationship between specific BPD features and the accuracy of self-assessed personality trait levels.

Main Methods:

• 104 students received instruction on the Five Factor Model of personality.
• Participants estimated their trait levels relative to community norms, then completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features scale (PAI-BOR).
• Accuracy was calculated by comparing self-estimates to norm-referenced scores.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was found between PAI-BOR scores and inaccurate trait estimations.
• Individuals with high BPD features (high BOR scorers) significantly overestimated their Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, perceiving themselves as above average when they were below.
• Estimate accuracy for Neuroticism was not related to BOR scores, despite a strong correlation between BOR scores and Neuroticism itself.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the hypothesis that BPD involves significant perceptual distortions regarding self-perception in relation to others.
• The perceptual deficit is not global; high BOR scorers accurately estimated high emotional responsiveness.
• Limited insight into deficits in cooperation and planning suggests targets for BPD treatment focusing on self-other representations.