Gordon Claridge
Encyclopedia
Gordon Sidney Claridge is a British psychologist
and author, best known for his theoretical and empirical work on the concept of schizotypy
or psychosis-proneness.
, London, jointly supervised by Hans Eysenck
and Neil O’Connor. He qualified under in-service training as a clinical psychologist, and from 1957-61 worked as Eysenck’s Research Assistant, based in the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley, Southampton.
Claridge them moved to Bristol as Head of Clinical Psychology at Barrow Hospital and part-time lecturer in the Bristol University Department of Psychology. From 1964-74 he ran the Glasgow University clinical psychology training course as (eventually) Reader in Clinical Psychology. He was awarded a DSc from Glasgow University in 1971.
In 1974 Claridge moved to Oxford as University Lecturer in Abnormal Psychology at the Department of Experimental Psychology and Fellow of Magdalen College
. For the first five years of this appointment he ran the Oxford University clinical psychology training course.
He is currently Emeritus Professor of Abnormal Psychology in Oxford University and Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College. He is also Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychology, Oxford Brookes University
. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society
, Associate of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
, and past president of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences
.
. Schizotypy is the putative dimension, normally distributed throughout the population, whose defining characteristic is that of proneness to develop schizophrenia
in particular and psychosis
in general.
Schizotypy as a concept overlaps, partially but not completely, with Eysenck’s concept of psychoticism
.
Factor analytical studies of schizotypy by Claridge and others using questionnaire measures suggest it has up to four relatively independent components.
Research also suggests that in some people milder forms of schizotypy may be adaptive and linked to creativity. The concept has implications for mental health.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and author, best known for his theoretical and empirical work on the concept of schizotypy
Schizotypy
Schizotypy is a psychological concept which describes a continuum of personality characteristics and experiences ranging from normal dissociative, imaginative states to more extreme states related to psychosis and in particular, schizophrenia...
or psychosis-proneness.
Biography
Claridge took his first degree in Psychology at University College, London, in 1953. His PhD work was at the Institute of PsychiatryInstitute of Psychiatry
The Institute of Psychiatry is a research institution dedicated to discovering what causes mental illness and diseases of the brain. In addition, its aim is to help identify new treatments for them and ways to prevent them in the first place...
, London, jointly supervised by Hans Eysenck
Hans Eysenck
Hans Jürgen Eysenck was a German-British psychologist who spent most of his career in Britain, best remembered for his work on intelligence and personality, though he worked in a wide range of areas...
and Neil O’Connor. He qualified under in-service training as a clinical psychologist, and from 1957-61 worked as Eysenck’s Research Assistant, based in the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley, Southampton.
Claridge them moved to Bristol as Head of Clinical Psychology at Barrow Hospital and part-time lecturer in the Bristol University Department of Psychology. From 1964-74 he ran the Glasgow University clinical psychology training course as (eventually) Reader in Clinical Psychology. He was awarded a DSc from Glasgow University in 1971.
In 1974 Claridge moved to Oxford as University Lecturer in Abnormal Psychology at the Department of Experimental Psychology and Fellow of Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. For the first five years of this appointment he ran the Oxford University clinical psychology training course.
He is currently Emeritus Professor of Abnormal Psychology in Oxford University and Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College. He is also Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychology, Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
, Associate of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
, and past president of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences
International Society for the Study of Individual Differences
The International Society for the Study of Individual Differences is a scientific society founded in 1983 that fosters research on the measurement, structure, dynamics and biological bases of individual differences in temperament, intelligence, attitudes, and abilities...
.
Research
Claridge is best known for his work in developing the theoretical construct of schizotypySchizotypy
Schizotypy is a psychological concept which describes a continuum of personality characteristics and experiences ranging from normal dissociative, imaginative states to more extreme states related to psychosis and in particular, schizophrenia...
. Schizotypy is the putative dimension, normally distributed throughout the population, whose defining characteristic is that of proneness to develop schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
in particular and psychosis
Psychosis
Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
in general.
Schizotypy as a concept overlaps, partially but not completely, with Eysenck’s concept of psychoticism
Psychoticism
Psychoticism is one of the three traits used by the psychologist Hans Eysenck in his P-E-N model model of personality. Psychoticism refers to a personality pattern typified by aggressiveness and interpersonal hostility.High levels of this trait were believed by Eysenck to be linked to increased...
.
Factor analytical studies of schizotypy by Claridge and others using questionnaire measures suggest it has up to four relatively independent components.
Research also suggests that in some people milder forms of schizotypy may be adaptive and linked to creativity. The concept has implications for mental health.
Selected papers
- Cyhlarova E, Claridge G. (2005). Development of a version of the Schizotypy Traits Questionnaire (STA) for screening children. Schizophrenia Research, 80, 253-261.
- Rawlings, D., Barrentes-Vidal, N., Claridge, G., McCreery, C., and Galanos, G. (2000). A factor analytic study of the Hypomanic Personality Scale in British, Spanish and Australian samples. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 73-84.
- Claridge, G., Clark, K., Davis, C., & Mason, O. (1998). Schizophrenia risk and handedness: a mixed picture. Laterality, 3, 209-220.
- Claridge, G., Clark, K., & Davis, C. (1997). Nightmares, dreams and schizotypy. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 36, 377-386.
- Claridge, G.,McCreery, C., Mason, O., Bentall, R.,Boyle, G., Slade, P., & Popplewell, D. (1996). The factor structure of 'schizotypal' traits: A large replication study. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 35, 103-115.