A BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC CONCEPTUALIZATION OF PERSONALITY-DISORDERS - A RESPONSE TO CLARK, LIVESLEY, AND MOREY

Clark, Livesley, and Morey critically analyze some of the deficiencies in the DSM approach to classifying personality disorders that derive from the fact that the construct of personality disorders is inadequat ely specified. This response agrees with their criticism, but argues t hat any significant improvement will have to entail a theory based tax onomy, A taxonomic system must eventually be explained rather than be an explanation for behavior. The theory chosen must relate to the goal s of those creating the classification system. This paper suggests tha t a taxonomic system that is tied to an experimentally based set of be havioral principles, and can provide treatment utility, would have adv antages over DSM-IV. The paper than presents the outline of a classifi cation system founded on behavior analytic principles.