Social Cognitive Personality Assessment: A Case Conceptualization Procedure and Illustration. Issue 1 (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scott, Walter D.; Cervone, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Cognitive and behavioral practice. Volume 23:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: social cognitive -- case conceptualization -- personality -- assessment -- cognitive behavioral; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Behavior Therapy -- Periodicals; Cognitive Therapy -- Periodicals; 616.8914205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2015.01.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-7229

Abstract

Abstract: Although social cognitive theory has strongly influenced cognitive behavioral models of psychopathology and treatment, it has had far less influence on approaches to clinical personality assessment and case conceptualization. A primary obstacle has been the difficulty of translating social cognitive assessment principles into practical clinical assessment methods. The purpose of the present paper was to describe a cognitive behavioral case conceptualization procedure informed by a social cognitive personality assessment, one that the average cognitive behavioral therapist would be able to implement. To execute a social cognitive personality assessment, we argue that the clinician must perform four tasks: (a) identify personality structures, (b) identify if-then personality signatures, (c) map personality structures to if-then personality signatures, and (d) integrate social cognitive assessment data to form an evidence-based case conceptualization. For each of these four social cognitive personality assessment tasks, we describe an assessment procedure and then illustrate it using a case illustration of a depressed and anxious woman who presented at a psychology clinic. We conclude by discussing advantages, limitations, and possible future directions for further development of social cognitive personality assessment measures and case conceptualization procedures. Highlights: A social cognitive approach to case conceptualization is presented. First, one assesses critical social cognitive personality structures. Second, the procedure requires identifying if-then personality signatures. Third, one maps critical personality structures to if-then personality signatures. Finally, all assessment data are integrated to form a case conceptualization.