These are maladaptive patterns of behavior. Early negative life experiences have been thought to play an important role in the development of personality disorders.
A personality disorder is an enduring pattern of behavior that deviates from what is socially acceptable or considered to be normal. These are inflexible behaviors that can onset in early childhood or adulthood.
Defining Personality change & Personality Disorder:
Personality disorders differ from personality change in their timing and mode of their emergence.
| Personality Change | Personality Disorder |
|---|---|
| Personality Change is acquired in adult life following severe or prolonged stress, environmental deprivation, psychiatric disorders, or organic causes. There is a significant alteration in habitual patterns of behavior | These are predominant behavioral manifestations that appear in childhood or adolescence and continue to adulthood. These disorders do not have any secondary mental disorders or brain diseases. |
Personality Disorders:
These conditions comprise deeply ingrained and enduring behavior patterns, manifesting themselves as inflexible responses to a broad range of personal and social situations.
These specific personality disorders are subdivided into three clusters of traits that correspond to the most frequent behavioral manifestations. They are clusters A, B, and C.
Clusters of Personality
Cluster A
Cluster B
Cluster A Personality disorders
Cluster A traits of three personality disorders. They are Paranoid Personality Disorder, Schizoid Personality Disorder, Schizotypal Personality Disorder. People in this cluster show behavior patterns which tend to be odd and eccentric. In this cluster, Individuals show awkwardness and have difficulty in social acceptance. They usually show social withdrawal. One unique feature is having distorted thinking.
1. Paranoid Personality Disorder
- The essential symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder are a pattern of pervasive distrust and suspicion of others to such an extent that they find others’ motives to be malevolent (evil) beginning early adulthood.
- They assume that others will harm and exploit them with little or no evidence. With preoccupied suspicion, they are always in doubt of loyalty from friends and family whose actions are always scrutinized for their intentions.
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2. Schizoid Personality Disorder
- The essential symptoms of detachment from social relationships, restricted range of emotions beginning early adulthood.
- Does not desires or enjoys social relationships,little interest in sexual relationships or intimacy, indifferent to praise , and does not take pleasure in any activities.
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3. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
- Social and interpersonal deficits, Cognitive and perceptual distortions, and odd or magical thinking. one example of distortion is that speaking to God and believing that God is replying.
- They have ideas of reference, a strong belief in the sixth sense, and paranoid ideation.
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Cluster B Personality disorders
Cluster B has four categories of disorders. Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. They are typically described as dramatic, emotional, or erratic. Carried out by impulsive actions and no emotional regulation.
1. Antisocial Personality Disorder
- A behavior pattern of carelessness and violation of others’ rights. Such behavior starts as early as 15 years.
- Disrespect for others, non-conformity of social rules, deceit, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse are diagnostic traits of antisocial behavior.
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2. Borderline Personality Disorder
- Instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, high impulsivity beginning in early childhood.
- Extreme efforts to avoid abandonment, instability in relationships and areas like spending, substance abuse, and sex, chronic feelings of loneliness.
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3. Histrionic Personality Disorder
- A behavior pattern of extreme emotionality, attention-seeking beginning in early adulthood.
- Uncomfortable in situations where the individual is not center of attention, using physical appearance to draw attention, impersonating, and lacking details in speech.
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4. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- The behavior pattern of grandiosity in thought and behavior, the extreme need for admiration, lack of empathy beginning in early adulthood.
- Preoccupied thoughts of high success, fantasies of power, money, beauty, and brilliance. Extreme self-importance with over-exaggerating self achievements, and talent, believing in being special and unique.
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Note: Narcissistic personality Disorder and narcissism are different.
Cluster C Personality Disorders
Cluster C has three categories of personality disorders. They are Avoidant Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, Schizotypal personality disorder. They are characterized as being anxious, fearful in thinking and behavior but not paranoia. Individuals experience shyness and avoid relationships.
1. Avoidant Personality Disorder
- The behavior pattern of social inhibition, sensitivity to negative evaluation beginning in early adulthood.
- Avoidance in any social or even occupational activity that involves interpersonal interaction due to fear of rejection or criticism. Preoccupied with being criticized or rejected. Avoid taking part in ay new activity due to fear or embarrassment
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2. Dependent Personality Disorder
- An excessive need to be taken care of, behavior, and thoughts of fear of separation beginning early adulthood.
- Difficulty in making everyday advice without taking any advice, difficulty in expressing disapproval or criticism due to fear of losing a relationship, taking extreme steps to get nurture, unrealistic fear of being left out.
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3. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- Patterns of behavior with extreme orderliness, perfectionism, mental and interpersonal control starting early adulthood.
- Preoccupied with rules, order, lists, and schedule to such an extent that to lose interest in the activity. Shows perfectionism that delays completion of the activity. Inflexible with morality, consciousness, ethics, and values.
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Summary
We have learned about Personality disorders that are clinically significant conditions and behavior patterns that tend to be persistent. These disorders are the expression of individuals’ lifestyles and modes of relating to self and others. How early experience causes these maladaptive behaviors. Difference between personality change and personality disorder.
Personality disorders are grouped into three clusters based on their similarities. Most of the time, individuals also present co-occurring personality disorders from different clusters. The onset of Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Dependent, and avoidant are observed from early adulthood, and the onset of Anti-social behavior, Borderline, and OCPD are observed from early childhood. The diagnostic criteria and prognosis are discussed individually on separate posts.
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