Cognitive contributions to personality disorders

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an understanding of the pathology of personality disorders from a cognitive perspective. The chapter begins by outlining cognitive schemas, particularly those developed by Drs. Beck and Young, along with a summary and discussion of the relevant empirical research. This is followed by a discussion of schema modes. Next is a discussion of cognitive biases; more specifically, biases in attention, interpretation, and memory. This is followed by a discussion of dichotomous thinking and then the implicit assessment of cognitive concepts. The chapter ends with final conclusions and suggestions for future research.