Fulfilling the promise of the LPF: Comment on Morey et al. (2022)

Abstract

In this commentary, I highlight a perceived reluctance in Morey et al.'s (2022) contribution to fully commit to a definition of the level of personality functioning (LPF), not as the functional consequence of extreme traits, but as an intrapsychic system that drives trait manifestation. I argue that for the LPF to reach its full potential to innovate the assessment and diagnosis of personality pathology beyond mere signs and symptoms, it is essential to define the LPF as a subjective meaning-making system located in biological systems that support the metacognitive capacities necessary for abstracting a sense of self. This view reflects the idea that personality does not simply describe a person (as traits do) but also captures how a person manages their self in relation to others (as LPF does). It implies a definition of personality that includes structural motivational components that fulfill an intrapsychic, organizing function, acknowledging the fact that traits alone are not enough to fully describe personality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).