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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: May 9, 2019

Personality Functioning Cannot Only Be One Thing: A Call for Theoretical Pluralism.

Orestis Zavlis¹

¹Psychoanalysis Unit, University College London, London, UK.

Personality and Mental Health

|June 9, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The current definition of personality functioning as a single factor of pathology hinders progress. This review proposes alternative conceptualizations for a more comprehensive understanding of personality.

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Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: May 9, 2019

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Area of Science:

Psychology
Psychopathology
Personality Theory

Background:

The concept of personality functioning is predominantly defined as a general factor of personality pathology.
This definition is supported by empirical findings and traditional psychoanalytic theories.
This narrow view may impede advancements in understanding personality.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically review the current definition of personality functioning.
To explore the limitations of viewing personality functioning solely as a general factor of pathology.
To propose alternative conceptualizations for personality functioning.

Main Methods:

Review of seminal psychoanalytic theories.
Analysis of empirical literature on personality functioning.
Presentation of alternative theoretical frameworks.

Main Results:

Psychoanalytic theories are contrary to a single-factor view of personality functioning.
Empirical data on personality functioning can be interpreted in ways incompatible with psychoanalytic justifications.
Three alternative conceptualizations are proposed: configurational, dialectic, and relational.

Conclusions:

The monopoly of a single interpretive viewpoint is limiting progress in personality functioning research.
Future research should formally articulate and empirically test multiple competing theoretical viewpoints.
A broader, more nuanced understanding of personality functioning is needed.