62nd Annual Meeting

October 26 - 31, 2015

Media Theatre 11 (open)

Thirteen: The Emergence of Personality Disorders and Delinquency in Adolescent Females

Thirteen is a semi-autobiographical film that illustrates the struggles of 13-year-old Tracy. The movie highlights the importance of parental supervision and strong role models, and provides an illustration of borderline and antisocial personality traits. Viewers acquire a better understanding of the effects of an insecure attachment style, which results from lack of parental attunement to their child’s emotional needs. Discussion explores risk factors for antisocial, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders in adolescent girls, and the pathological coping styles utilized by these patients, with a focus on self-injurious behavior. Treatment options for personality disorders, as well as childhood delinquency, involve strengthening family ties and gaining better coping skills.