Personality
disorders form a class of mental disorders that are characterized by
long-lasting rigid patterns of thought and behavior. Because of the
inflexibility and pervasiveness of these patterns, they can cause serious
problems and impairment of functioning for the persons who are afflicted with
these disorders
Personality
disorders are seen by professionals and researchers as an enduring pattern of
inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of
the culture of the individual who exhibits it. These patterns are inflexible
and pervasive across many situations. The onset of the pattern can be traced
back at least to the beginning of adulthood. To be diagnosed as a personality
disorder, a behavioral pattern must cause significant distress or impairment in
personal, social, and/or occupational situations.
disorders are seen by professionals and researchers as an enduring pattern of
inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of
the culture of the individual who exhibits it. These patterns are inflexible
and pervasive across many situations. The onset of the pattern can be traced
back at least to the beginning of adulthood. To be diagnosed as a personality
disorder, a behavioral pattern must cause significant distress or impairment in
personal, social, and/or occupational situations.
Some
examples of personality disorders are:
examples of personality disorders are:
a. Paranoid personality
disorder
disorder
b. Schizoid personality
disorder
disorder
c. Antisocial personality
disorder
disorder
d. Histrionic personality
disorder
disorder
e. Narcissistic personality
disorder
disorder
Paranoid personality disorder
People
with paranoid personality disorder are generally characterized by having a
long-standing pattern of pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others.
A person with paranoid personality disorder will nearly always believe that
other people’s motives are suspect or even malevolent.
with paranoid personality disorder are generally characterized by having a
long-standing pattern of pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others.
A person with paranoid personality disorder will nearly always believe that
other people’s motives are suspect or even malevolent.
Individuals
with this disorder assume that other people will exploit, harm, or deceive
them, even if no evidence exists to support this expectation. While it is
fairly normal for everyone to have some degree of paranoia about certain
situations in their lives (such as worry about an impending set of layoffs at
work), people with paranoid personality disorder take this to an extreme — it
pervades virtually every professional and personal relationship they have.
with this disorder assume that other people will exploit, harm, or deceive
them, even if no evidence exists to support this expectation. While it is
fairly normal for everyone to have some degree of paranoia about certain
situations in their lives (such as worry about an impending set of layoffs at
work), people with paranoid personality disorder take this to an extreme — it
pervades virtually every professional and personal relationship they have.
Schizoid personality disorder
Schizoid
Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of detachment
from social relationships. A person with schizoid personality disorder often
has difficulty expression emotions and does so typically in very restricted
range, especially when communicating with others.
Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of detachment
from social relationships. A person with schizoid personality disorder often
has difficulty expression emotions and does so typically in very restricted
range, especially when communicating with others.
A
person with this disorder may appear to lack a desire for intimacy, and will
avoid close relationships with others. They may often prefer to spend time with
themselves rather than socialize or be in a group of people. In laypeople
terms, a person with schizoid personality disorder might be thought of as the
typical “loner.”
person with this disorder may appear to lack a desire for intimacy, and will
avoid close relationships with others. They may often prefer to spend time with
themselves rather than socialize or be in a group of people. In laypeople
terms, a person with schizoid personality disorder might be thought of as the
typical “loner.”
Individuals
with Schizoid Personality Disorder may have particular difficulty expressing
anger, even in response to direct provocation, which contributes to the
impression that they lack emotion. Their lives sometimes seem directionless,
and they may appear to “drift” in their goals. Such individuals often react
passively to adverse circumstances and have difficulty responding appropriately
to important life events.
with Schizoid Personality Disorder may have particular difficulty expressing
anger, even in response to direct provocation, which contributes to the
impression that they lack emotion. Their lives sometimes seem directionless,
and they may appear to “drift” in their goals. Such individuals often react
passively to adverse circumstances and have difficulty responding appropriately
to important life events.
Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial
personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of a disregard
for other people’s rights, often crossing the line and violating those rights.
It usually begins in childhood or as a teen and continues into their adult
lives.
personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of a disregard
for other people’s rights, often crossing the line and violating those rights.
It usually begins in childhood or as a teen and continues into their adult
lives.
Antisocial
personality disorder is often referred to as psychopathy or sociopathy in
popular culture. However, neither psychopathy nor sociopathy are recognized
professional labels used for diagnosis.
personality disorder is often referred to as psychopathy or sociopathy in
popular culture. However, neither psychopathy nor sociopathy are recognized
professional labels used for diagnosis.
Individuals
with Antisocial Personality Disorder frequently lack empathy and tend to be
callous, cynical, and contemptuous of the feelings, rights, and sufferings of
others. They may have an inflated and arrogant self-appraisal (e.g., feel that
ordinary work is beneath them or lack a realistic concern about their current
problems or their future) and may be excessively opinionated, self-assured, or
cocky.
with Antisocial Personality Disorder frequently lack empathy and tend to be
callous, cynical, and contemptuous of the feelings, rights, and sufferings of
others. They may have an inflated and arrogant self-appraisal (e.g., feel that
ordinary work is beneath them or lack a realistic concern about their current
problems or their future) and may be excessively opinionated, self-assured, or
cocky.
Histrionic personality disorder
Histrionic
personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of attention
seeking behavior and extreme emotionality. Someone with histrionic personality
disorder wants to be the center of attention in any group of people, and feel
uncomfortable when they are not. While often lively, interesting and sometimes
dramatic, they have difficulty when people aren’t focused exclusively on them.
People with this disorder may be perceived as being shallow, and may engage in
sexually seductive or provocative behavior to draw attention to themselves.
personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of attention
seeking behavior and extreme emotionality. Someone with histrionic personality
disorder wants to be the center of attention in any group of people, and feel
uncomfortable when they are not. While often lively, interesting and sometimes
dramatic, they have difficulty when people aren’t focused exclusively on them.
People with this disorder may be perceived as being shallow, and may engage in
sexually seductive or provocative behavior to draw attention to themselves.
Individuals
with Histrionic Personality Disorder may have difficulty achieving emotional
intimacy in romantic or sexual relationships. Without being aware of it, they
often act out a role (e.g., “victim” or “princess”) in their relationships to
others. They may seek to control their partner through emotional manipulation
or seductiveness on one level, whereas displaying a marked dependency on them
at another level.
with Histrionic Personality Disorder may have difficulty achieving emotional
intimacy in romantic or sexual relationships. Without being aware of it, they
often act out a role (e.g., “victim” or “princess”) in their relationships to
others. They may seek to control their partner through emotional manipulation
or seductiveness on one level, whereas displaying a marked dependency on them
at another level.
Individuals
with this disorder often have impaired relationships with same-sex friends
because their sexually provocative interpersonal style may seem a threat to
their friends’ relationships. These individuals may also alienate friends with
demands for constant attention. They often become depressed and upset when they
are not the center of attention.
with this disorder often have impaired relationships with same-sex friends
because their sexually provocative interpersonal style may seem a threat to
their friends’ relationships. These individuals may also alienate friends with
demands for constant attention. They often become depressed and upset when they
are not the center of attention.
Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic
Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of
grandiosity (either in fantasy or actual behavior), an overwhelming need for admiration, and
usually a complete lack of empathy toward others. People with this
disorder often believe they are of primary importance in everybody’s life or to
anyone they meet. While this pattern of behavior may be appropriate for a king
in 16th Century England, it is generally considered inappropriate for most
ordinary people today.
Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of
grandiosity (either in fantasy or actual behavior), an overwhelming need for admiration, and
usually a complete lack of empathy toward others. People with this
disorder often believe they are of primary importance in everybody’s life or to
anyone they meet. While this pattern of behavior may be appropriate for a king
in 16th Century England, it is generally considered inappropriate for most
ordinary people today.
