Personality Diagnosis and Mental Disorder Anti-diagnosis

Choose a partner to work with, preferably someone you know relatively well. Output will be individual; no need
to provide the real name of your partner.

I. Personality

1. Choose two personality theories to use to describe the personality traits/type that you can use to
describe/classify your partner.
2. List the traits or type, and describe your partner’s characteristics that fit that trait level or type.
3. You may interview your partner to find out more, or you may simply use observation. Please indicate
which method you used.
4. Sample:
Mickey Mouse BSIT 2A
Partner: Mike
I. Personality Diagnosis
1. Theory No. 1: Sigmund Freud Structure of Personality
After observing Mike for a week, I was able to notice the following:
a) He only tries to get his wants in secret. I can conclude that his “id” is very weak, and
he prefers to give others what they want before giving himself rewards.
b) This means that he has a stronger superego, which dictates him to do the right thing
in helping others first always. His ego is unable to give enough attention to the id, and
favors morality.
2. Second theory: Alfred Adler Styles of Life
I interviewed Mike to find out more about how superior or inferior he feels compared
to others. He narrated the following:
a) He believes that humility is important, so he must recognize that other people’s
needs are more important that his.
b) In terms of making decisions, he prefers to consider the factors that will benefit
others, so he often depends on others for making the final decision.
After understanding these, I can say the best Style of Life to describe Mike is the
Leaning type. He relies on others for making decisions, and prefers to give others
authority.

II. Mental Disorder

1. Choose two mental disorders that at first, may seem likely to be present in your partner due to some
initial observations that you or others have made.
2. List the disorder, then describe the “symptoms” you believe your partner has that may possibly qualify
him/her for that disorder.
3. Review the criteria for diagnosis of the disorder.
4. List the criteria that was not present in your partner, which is your basis for making the “anti-diagnosis.”
5. Sample:
Mickey Mouse BSIT 2A
Partner: Mike
II. Mental Disorder Anti-Diagnosis
1. Depression
Partner’s symptoms:
- I saw a sad post on Mike’s Facebook two times last week.
- Mike has never told a joke in class.
Official criteria:
- Sad mood almost everyday, all day for at least 2 weeks
- No interest in enjoyable activities
- etc
Anti-diagnosis:
- I realized Mike is not sad most of the day, and there were only two sad
posts out of seven of his FB posts last week.
- I recall him participating in class last week and joining a DOTA
tournament as well, therefore he still has interest in enjoyable activities.
2. Stuttering
Partner’s symptoms: hesitant reporting during group report
Official criteria: all sentences contain at least two repeated syllables
Anti-diagnosis: I found out he was shy because his crush was his
partner in the report