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Personality
Disorders
By: Allyssa Tamblingson
What is personality?
 Personality
is a term psychologists use to
define the unique attitudes, behaviors,
and emotions that characterize a person.
 A personality disorder is a disorder
characterized by a set of maladaptive
behavior patterns that keep a person
from functioning appropriately in society.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
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A disorder in which individuals show no regard for the
moral and ethical rules of society or the rights of
others.
Although they appear quite intelligent and likeable,
they turn out to be manipulative and deceptive.
They lack and guilt or anxiety about their
wrongdoing. They also feel no remorse for those they
have physically hurt.
People that have this disorder are often impulsive
and lack the ability to withstand frustration.
Things that can cause this are an inability to
experience emotions appropriately or problems in
family relationships.
OCD Personality Disorder
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Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is
characterized by a preoccupation with
orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and
interpersonal control, at the expense of
flexibility, openness, and efficiency.
People like this are overly concerned with
certain thoughts and performing certain
behaviors.
They are preoccupied with details, rules, lists,
order, organization, or schedules
They are very stubborn and are perfectionists.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
 Narcissistic
personality disorder is a
personality disturbance characterized by
an exaggerated sense of self importance.
 Those with this disorder expect special
treatment from others while at the same
time disregarding others feelings.
 The main attribute of the narcissistic
personality is an inability to experience
empathy for others.
Borderline Personality Disorder
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This is a disorder in which individuals have difficulty
developing a secure sense of who they are.
They tend to rely on relationships with others to
define their identity.
People with this disorder have difficulty trusting others
and controlling their anger.
Their emotions lead to impulsive and self-destructive
behavior.
They often feel empty and alone.
One reason for this behavior is that they may have a
background in which others discounted or criticized
their emotional reactions and have not learned to
regulate them.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
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Paranoid personality disorder is a psychiatric condition in which a
person has a long-term distrust and suspicion of others, but does
not have a full-blown psychotic disorder.
People with this disorder are concerned that other people have
hidden motives and expectations that they will be exploited by
others.
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They have an inability to work together with others.
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They also show signs of social isolation, detachment, and hostility.
The causes of paranoid personality disorder are unknown. The
disorder appears to be more common in families with psychotic
disorders such as schizophrenia and delusional disorder, which
suggests genes may be involved. However, environmental factors
may play a role, as well.
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Schizoid Personality
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Schizoid personality disorder is a psychiatric
condition in which a person has a lifelong pattern
of indifference to others and social isolation.
A person with schizoid personality disorder may
appear aloof and detached.
They avoid social activities that involve emotional
intimacy with other people.
They do not want or enjoy close relationships,
even with family members.
This disorder may be related to schizophrenia and
it shares many of the same risk factors.
Schizotypal Personality
Disorder
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Schizotypal personality disorder is a mental health condition
in which a person has trouble with relationships and
disturbances in thought patterns, appearance, and
behavior.
People with this disorder may find discomfort in social
situations.
They have inappropriate displays of feelings.
They have no close friends.
They display odd behavior or appearance.
They also have odd beliefs, fantasies, speech, or
preoccupations.
Genes are thought to be involved in the cause of this
disorder because this condition is more common in relatives
of schizophrenics.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
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Histrionic personality disorder is a condition in which people act in a
very emotional and dramatic way that draws attention to
themselves.
People with this disorder actor look overly seductive.
They are easily influenced by other people.
They are overly concerned with their looks.
They are overly dramatic, emotional, and sensitive to criticism or
disapproval.
They believe that relationships are more intimate than they actually
are.
People with this disorder blame failure or disappointment on others.
Both genes and early childhood events are thought to contribute.
It occurs more often in women than in men, although it may be
diagnosed more often in women because attention-seeking and
sexual forwardness are less socially acceptable for women.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
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Avoidant personality disorder is a mental health condition
in which a person has a lifelong pattern of feeling very shy,
inadequate, and sensitive to rejection.
People with this disorder may:
Be easily hurt when people criticize or disapprove of them
Hold back too much in intimate relationships
Be reluctant to become involved with people
Avoid activities or jobs that involve contact with others
Be shy in social situations out of fear of doing something
wrong
Make potential difficulties seem worse than they are
About 1% of the population has avoidant personality
disorder. Both males and females have the condition
equally. The cause is unknown.
Dependent Personality
Disorder
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Dependent personality disorder is a long-term condition in which
people depend too much on others to meet their emotional and
physical needs.
Symptoms of dependent personality disorder may include:
Avoiding being alone
Avoiding personal responsibility
Becoming easily hurt by criticism or disapproval
Becoming overly focused on fears of being abandoned
Becoming very passive in relationships
Feeling very upset or helpless when relationships end
Having difficulty making decisions without support from others
Dependent personality disorder usually begins in childhood. The
causes of this disorder are unknown. It is one of the most common
personality disorders, and is equally common in men and women.
Bibliography
 Feldman,
Robert S. Understanding
Psychology. 9th ed. New York: McGrawHill, 1993. Print.