Its proponents, however, have failed to generate any theories of how personality develops and what purposes it serves, Westen argues. In his view, questionnaire responses tap into a person s self-concept and social reputation without addressing the deeper organizing principles of his or her personality. Not surprisingly, some personality researchers disagree. Westen and Shedler, however, are targeting their method to psychotherapists. These practitioners could use a tool that would act as a scalpel to cut through the self s outer hide to explore personality s inner workings, Westen and Shedler say.
Many clinicians find fault with commonly used systems for personality classification.
These categories mainly exist for the convenience of insurers that cover mental health care, they say. Moreover, clinicians frequently denigrate the handful of personality traits studied by psychologists as statistical entities that only skim personality s surface. Behavioral researchers return the favor by tending to brand psychotherapists as hopelessly subjective, mistake-prone in their judgments about clients, and willfully ignorant of scientific advances. However, he notes, it could just as easily alienate both camps. We need to analyze in a scientific way the observations of personality experts, such as experienced clinicians, who listen to the stories people tell about their lives and watch their actual interactions.