Robert Bornstein, Ph.D., calls for continued research into issues surrounding self-reports, particularly the psychological processes that occur when people choose their answers to questionnaires.
One professor’s challenge to his profession
Mental health professionals are well aware of the fact that there is often a discrepancy between what people say and what they do. So why do they rely on patients鈥� responses to questionnaires as the foundation for most classifications in their field鈥檚 authoritative reference, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)?
That鈥檚 the question Robert Bornstein, Ph.D., professor in the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, has been asking for close to 20 years, most recently in an address, 鈥淲hat We Say and What We Do,鈥� that he delivered as president of the Society for Personality Assessment.
鈥淧sychology has developed an unhealthy reliance on self-report,鈥� Dr. Bornstein explained. 鈥淏etween 60 to 80 percent of the personality disorder symptom criteria in the DSM are based exclusively on questionnaires, which is a big problem. Self-reports bear little resemblance to what people do; in fact, they tend to correlate with actual behavior very modestly鈥攁t about .20 to .30 in most studies.鈥�
But while the lack of accuracy would seem to make patients鈥� responses worthless, Dr. Bornstein says that is not necessarily the case. Self-reports are an excellent measure of how people perceive and present themselves鈥攁lthough they must be supplemented with objective information to develop more accurate classifications and deeper understandings, especially in the area of personality disorders like narcissism.
Dr. Bornstein argues that DSM assessments, which serve as a guide to treatments and have an impact on reimbursements for healthcare providers, should also incorporate detailed observations by professionals and others who know the patients well. And he calls for continued research into issues surrounding self-reports, particularly the psychological processes that occur when people choose their answers to questionnaires.
Will the profession address Dr. Bornstein鈥檚 concerns about the overreliance on self-reports? 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough problem to combat,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople in the field always say, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 a really good point,鈥� then move on. No one is willing to get into the ring to fight about it.鈥�
Robert Bornstein, Ph.D.鈥檚 research into personality disorders and assessment, unconscious processes, and interpersonal dependency has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Science Foundation. More recently, his work has also considered the growing problem of technology dependency. In 2016, he was voted 天美传媒 Professor of the Year by the Student Government Association and Adelphi Psychology Professor of the Year by the Undergraduate Psychology Club.For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director听
p 鈥� 516.237.8634
e 鈥� twilson@adelphi.edu