Chapter 12: Personality Disorders

Vocabulary and key concepts from Chapter 12 on Personality Disorders, covering the three main clusters, biological theories, and specific diagnostic characteristics.

Personality Disorders

A persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behavior that results in enduring emotional distress for the person affected and/or for others and may cause difficulties with work and relationships.

Ego-syntonic

A characteristic of personality disorders where they often feel consistent with one’s identity, making patients feel that treatment is unnecessary.

Dimensional model

A model where individuals are rated on the degree to which they exhibit various personality traits, rather than using all-or-nothing categories.

Five factor model of personality

Also known as the "Big Five," this model includes the universal dimensions of Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Cluster A

The odd or eccentric cluster, which includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.

Cluster B

The dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster, which includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders.

Cluster C

The fearful or anxious cluster, which includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Prevalence of personality disorders

These disorders affect about $10\%$ of the general population.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by pervasive and unjustified mistrust and suspicion, few meaningful relationships, and sensitivity to criticism.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

A disorder featuring a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a very limited range of emotions in interpersonal situations.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A disorder where behavior and dress are odd and unusual, and the individual experiences magical thinking, ideas of reference, and illusions.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder involving a failure to comply with social norms, violation of the rights of others, impulsivity, deceitfulness, and a lack of conscience or empathy.

Underarousal hypothesis

A neurobiological theory of antisocial personality suggesting that cortical arousal is too low.

Cortical immaturity hypothesis

A neurobiological theory of antisocial personality suggesting the cerebral cortex is not fully developed.

Fearlessness hypothesis

A neurobiological theory of antisocial personality suggesting individuals fail to respond to danger cues.

Gray’s model

A theory regarding antisocial personality suggesting that inhibition signals are outweighed by reward signals.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by unstable moods and relationships, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, very poor self-image, and self-mutilation or suicidal gestures.

Borderline Personality Disorder Comorbidity

Includes major depression in $80\%$ of patients, bipolar in $10\%$, Substance Use Disorders in $67\%$, and eating disorders like bulimia ($25\%$) or anorexia ($20\%$).

Triple vulnerability model

A model applied to borderline personality involving generalized biological vulnerability, generalized psychological vulnerability, and specific psychological vulnerability.

Dialectical behavior therapy

The most promising treatment for borderline personality disorder which focuses on the dual reality of acceptance and the need for change.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by being overly dramatic, sensational, and sexually provocative, with an impulsive need to be the center of attention.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A disorder involving an exaggerated sense of self-importance, preoccupation with receiving attention, and a lack of sensitivity or compassion for others.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A disorder involving extreme sensitivity to the opinions of others, low self-esteem, and being interpersonally anxious and fearful of rejection.

Dependent Personality Disorder

A disorder involving reliance on others to make major and minor life decisions and an unreasonable fear of abandonment.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by an excessive and rigid fixation on doing things the right way, perfectionism, and an unwillingness to delegate tasks.

Sadistic

A personality disorder under study where the individual enjoys inflicting pain on others.

Passive-aggressive

A personality disorder under study involving defiant behavior and undermining authority.