Transgender people are exposed to strong, long-term minority stress, much of which is caused by social interactions. Most often, the difference between the light and dark sides of personality is revealed precisely during the stress response. The personality traits we refer to as the dark side are revealed in situations of diminished control, when the individual is exposed to prolonged stress and his/her previous defence mechanisms are no longer efficient. These seemingly dysfunctional traits allow them to cope with the difficulties arising in interpersonal relationships that transgender people experience on a daily basis. The development or intensification of traits that are part of the dark personality tetrad seems to be a natural consequence of being in a situation of overexposure to stress and a tendency to isolate oneself in social relationships. This is likely to have the effect of reducing the level of psychological resilience, which can cause even deeper isolation and a self-perpetuating vicious circle mechanism. These considerations will be further explored in the context of my ongoing research project.
Book of Abstracts [Unofficial – Accepted Presentation, Abstract Submission Ongoing]
Mental Resilience of Transgender People from the Perspective of Personality Traits