ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the arguments of those who aim to clarify ‘the diagnostic imprecision and terminological confusion’ while working within the traditional concept of personality disorder. It explores the point of view which criticizes the existing concepts, so advocating alternative research strategies. Clinical diagnosis of personality thus seems to require many arbitrary decisions based upon imprecise information. Personality can, therefore, mean different things to different people and can be defined in different ways. A very general definition might be: any psychological attribute of a person which varies between individuals. It is a truism to say that ordinary people have their own concept of personality. Trait-rating scales already imply cross-situational consistency and to examine whether people really do behave similarly in different situations needs direct behavioural measurement. The medical concept of personality disorder therefore rests on the rather shaky foundations of traditional personality theory.
