The relationship between anomia and maladaptive personality traits

Abstract

Research of anomia is topical in the period when a society endures social and economic changes. On the other hand, the modern Western society is characterized by a rapid speed of development, by diversity, variability, multicultural life. In such conditions for some individuals it could be difficult to make life choices. Such individuals can get into “an anomic state”. In a situation of rapid social and political changes as well as simply in the modern diverse and rapidly developing society pathological personality traits can serve as a factor that aggravates anomic feelings. Thus, the main purpose of this research is to investigate relations between anomia and pathological personality traits. The sample consisted of 83 Latvian inhabitants aged from 19 to 47 years (16.9 % males, 83.1 % females). The Anomia Questionnaire – AQ [1] and the Latvian Clinical Personality Inventory – LCPI v2.2 [2] were used. It is found that there are multiple relations between all six sub-dimensions of anomia and certain different maladaptive personality traits. Irresponsibility is the only personality trait that predicts deviation from prescribed rules or customs. Negative emotionality is the only significant predictor for social distrust. Suspiciousness that falls within a first-order domain Psychoticism and a second-order domain Schizotypy is the most significant predictor of estrangement to others as a dimension of anomia. Eccentricity that falls within a first-order domain Psychoticism and a second-order domain Schizotypy is the most significant predictor of cultural isolation. Separation insecurity that falls within a first-order domain Dependence and a second-order domain Neuroticism is the most significant predictor of a lack of goal clarity as a dimension of anomia. Depression as a pathological personality trait that falls within a first-order domain Negative emotionality and a second-order domain Neuroticism is the most significant predictor of a lack of goal clarity as a dimension of anomia.