Observational Research Paper

Observational Research Paper

Taja Crowell

SSCJ 334-01

Spring 2016

Professor Pansy Anderson

Benedict College

Abstract

The object of this study was to observe and record the finding of people that exhibit the traits of borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is a mental illness that is marked by unstable moods behavior, and relationship (National Institute of Mental Health). The study was focused on four individuals who all exhibited the characteristics of BPD. Each subject was observed on the basis of their everyday behavior, attitude, and actions. They ranged from ages of nineteen and twenty-one, and was a group of mixed genders; one male and three females. Each subject acted in different manners, but in a sense they all showed characteristics of BPD. As a result, I observed that each of the subjects held at least three or more traits of borderline personality disorder.

Introduction

 Borderline personality is a disease that may not be recognizable in many American’s because it is hard to pin point. Sometimes it can go untreated and be misdiagnosed for the fact that it will not be as aggressive as someone else’s case. “People with severe BPD may have more occurrences for an episode than someone with a mild case. Research has shown that individuals can differ in their overall disgust eliciting- stimuli (A.J. Standish, J.A. Bendfield, M.J. Bernstein, S. Tragesser (2014)”. I chose to observe the traits and characteristics of BPD because it can be traits that everyone possesses. Studies show that “people with BPD have difficulty with their interpersonal relationships and tend to have intense emotions (National Institute of Mental Health)”. Furthermore, all of the individuals that I have observe each have exhibited the trait that I preciously stated.

        All four of the observations have taken place on Benedict’s campus. From the four that I observed two of them in close proximity. Within that observation I was able to gather information on how the behaved and how easily their moods were triggered to change. One of the individuals were easily influenced by peers and their cellular devices. The first half of the study was conducted in common areas of the campus such as the café, classrooms, the campus yard, and inside the dormitories. I had to be very conscientious with my actions, so that I wouldn’t alarm those that I was observing. By alarming, their behavior could have been altered and the observation process would be compromised.

        Borderline personality disorders have become a topic of interest for me because I have come in contact with many people that demonstrate such behaviors. I want this research study to help me compare and contrast the behavior to one another and if the school environment can be a factor as to why they behave in such a manner. Although research suggests that “genetic and environmental factors are likely to be involved with cases of borderline personality disorders (National Institute of Mental Health)”