Personality Couch

Ep 04: Personality Disorders as Ice Cream Flavors

In this episode, we discuss the different types of personality disorders and compare them to flavors of ice cream. We explore the personality disorders that are always in season and the ones that come and go depending on cultural and social factors. Highlighting the “ingredients” that make up each disorder and how they manifest, we explore the DSM-5-TR classifications of: Cluster A (odd or eccentric), Cluster B (dramatic or erratic), and Cluster C (anxious or fearful). If you want to jump to a specific cluster, just use one of the timestamps/chapters below. If you’re new to personality disorders, we recommend starting at timestamp 11:17 and returning to the beginning after a more thorough explanation of each disorder.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro/Overview of the Personality Flavors02:13 - Personality Flavors Always in Season03:12 - Pandemic Personality Flavors05:14 - Mid Pandemic Personality Flavors06:18 - End of Pandemic Personality Flavors07:15 - Personality Flavors not often in Season11:17 - DSM Clusters ABC Overview
Cluster A11:48 - Cluster A12:14 - Cluster A: Paranoid PD14:55 - Cluster A: Schizotypal PD19:21 - Cluster A: Schizoid PD
Cluster B22:33 - Cluster B23:10 - Cluster B: Antisocial PD27:39 - Cluster B: Borderline PD29:41 - Cluster B: Histrionic PD31:51 - Cluster B: Narcissistic PD32:43 - Antisocial PD vs Narcissistic PD
Cluster C36:20 - Cluster C36:40 - Cluster C: Avoidant PD37:34 - Schizoid PD vs Avoidant PD38:08 - Borderline PD vs Avoidant PD39:16 - Cluster C: Dependent PD41:38 - Cluster C: OCPD44:27 - Conclusion

Ep 03: How to Spot a Personality Disorder

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss how to spot a personality disorder. We start with the definition of a personality disorder according to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM), which includes enduring patterns of behavior that deviate from cultural expectations and cause distress/impairment. We also introduce the concept of the personality drama triangle, where individuals can take on different roles as a rescuer, persecutor, or victim. We discuss how to spot personality disorders through observations of thinking patterns, moods, relationships, and impulsivity. We emphasize the importance of trusting your intuition and paying attention to your body's reactions when interacting with someone who may have a personality disorder.
Chapters
Introduction00:00 - Introduction01:40 - The DSM definition of Personality Disorders
How Personality Disorders Show Up03:41 - How Personality Disorders Show Up in Thinking05:07 - The Drama Triangle in Personality Disorders07:09 - How Personality Disorders Show Up in Moods
Spotting Personality Disorders09:22 - Trusting your Gut, Intuition, and Body13:50 - Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire16:45 - The Axis II Hook and “Oil Spills”
Disconnecting From Personality Disorder Dynamics31:05 - Stop Drop and Roll Out of the Drama33:53 - The Power of Naming a Personality Disorder
Conclusions41:02 - Empathy for Personality Disorders45:54 - Conclusion

Ep 02: What is Personality?

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we talk a little more about our intrigue for personality, pathology, and darkness, which influence our media consumption. We discuss seeing personality everywhere - from pets to babies to our everyday relationships. Walking through history, we explore various classifications including, the Four Temperaments, Freud and Psychoanalysis, the MBTI, the Big 5, and more! We look at the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) definition and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which includes the field’s current classification of personality disorders.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Intrigue of Personality Darkness in Media08:23 - How Did Personality Become a Thing?20:09 - What is Personality? (APA + other definitions)
Historical Classifications of Personality28:47 - The Four Temperaments33:20 - The Enneagram (9 Types)
Modern Classifications of Personality35:04 - MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)36:02 - OCEAN (Big 5)36:30 - Type A, B, C, D 37:37 - DSM38:35 - What are Personality Disorders?42:49 - Personality Disorders in Youth50:30 - Summary

Ep 01: Introduction to the Hosts (Our Personality Journeys)

In this episode, we (Doc Bok and Doc Fish) introduce ourselves and share our personality journeys and career paths! Doc Bok talks about her windy journey to personality, which includes deciding between her doctorate or a career in the FBI. Doc Fish shares about her linear journey to personality and psychology starting in childhood and her intrigue into psychodynamic work with clients. We both discuss why personality is so important, as well as different modalities and approaches to understanding personality, all the while emphasizing the complexity and nuances involved. We express our curiosity and desire to understand people, sharing a mutual passion for the detective work needed to solve the most challenging personality puzzles!
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction00:44 - What would you be doing if you weren't a psychologist?03:46 - Commonalities and Shared Background09:50 - Personal Journeys and Career Paths29:10 - Personality is like a Gobstopper31:08 - Different Lenses for Understanding Personality35:00 - Our Shared Curiosity and Desire to Help People36:03 - Conclusion

Welcome to the Personality Couch Podcast.

We all encounter personality conflict on a regular basis, whether we know it or not. From funky, can’t-quite-put-my-finger-on-it dynamics with that one friend or family member, to the big blowup drama at work with the last person you’d expect, it all comes down to personality.
Join licensed clinical psychologist, Doc Bok and colleagues as they unpack the most complex topics like personality disorders and psychopathic behavior, while also making room for lighthearted discussions about personality typologies and humorous anecdotes from private practice. Whether you’re fascinated by personality darkness, a concerned friend or loved one, an “armchair psychologist,” or a licensed professional convinced there is something more going on with patients…. This channel is for you.