Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personality types?

Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by greenyoda on Saturday May 11, 2019 @09:23PM (#19889502)

The identification of fundamental particles is based on scientific evidence: physicists created this theory to explain their observations of the physical world. The current theory can be tested, and disproved if it doesn't hold up. (Previous theories of fundamental particles have been replaced as new facts have been discovered.)

What scientific facts are there to suggest that there are discrete "personality types"?

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ErotemeObelus on Saturday May 11, 2019 @09:33PM (#19889535)

Umm... the DSM-V has psychopath and narcissist. Those are two distinct categories of personality.

So which one is more parsimonious: there are two discrete personality types (narcissist and psychopath) and everyone else is ill-defined, or everyone exists in a discrete personality type?

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ohyeshedid on Sunday May 12, 2019 @04:13AM (#19890777)

"...the DSM-V has psychopath and narcissist. Those are two distinct categories of personality."

Those are personality disorders.

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ErotemeObelus on Sunday May 12, 2019 @04:57AM (#19890875)

Maybe they're personality types and we're being too politically correct, unwilling to admit that some type are actually bad.

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ohyeshedid on Sunday May 12, 2019 @02:03PM (#19893423)

That would be at odds with the book you drew your conclusion from.

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ErotemeObelus on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @10:16PM (#19915834)

The DSM-V pretends they're personality disorders instead of personality types...because they want to be politically correct. But the truth is that they're personality types because they're always ego-syntonic. If they were disorders they would be ego-dystonic.

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ohyeshedid on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @10:25PM (#19915890)

DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of _Mental Disorders_, 5th Edition.

They are personality disorders; trying to insert some kind of bias against political correctness isn't going to change that, nor does it support anything you're trying to say.

"If they were disorders they would be ego-dystonic."

I'm not sure you understand the concepts of disorders, or you're on some conspiracy trip; either way I'm not interested in debating someones opinion versus current scientific understanding.

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by DanBC on Sunday May 12, 2019 @08:22AM (#19891459)

> the DSM-V has psychopath

Please could you link to the DSM V section for psychopath?

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Re:Ask HN: Can we get a good theory of categorical personali... by ErotemeObelus on Sunday May 12, 2019 @10:56AM (#19892263)

"Antisocial personality disorder" is a polylexical synonym for psychopath.

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