SUPA Psych Chapter 14: Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Disregard for others’ needs or feelings, persistent lying, stealing, using aliases, conning others combined with recurring problems with the law. Repeated violation of the rights of others. Aggressive, and often violent behavior. Disregard for the safety of others and wider societal regulations or moral beliefs. Is not constrained what so ever by the judgements or rules society places on individuals. Impulsive behavior, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse for behavior. Dramatic-impulse type of personality disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Impulsive and risky behavior, such as having unsafe sex, gambling or binge eating. Unstable or fragile self image/self esteem with unstable and intense relationships. Up and down moods often as a reaction to interpersonal stress along with suicidal behavior or threats of self injury. Intense fear of being alone or abandoned with ongoing feelings of emptiness. Frequent, intense displays of anger with stress related paranoia that comes and goes. Dramatic-impulse type of personality disorder.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Is marked by a grandiose sense of self importance, a sense of entitlement, and an excessive need for attention and admiration. More common in males than females. Individuals with this disorder think they are more special and important than others. They have fantasies about power, success, and attractiveness. Failure to recognize others’ needs and feelings while exaggerating achievements or talents. Expectation of constant praise and admiration with high levels of arrogance. Unreasonable expectations of favors and advantages, often taking advantage of others. These people also envy others or believe that others envy them. Critics argue that the current diagnostic criteria for this disorder focuses too much on the overt, grandiose side of the disorder and not on it's covert, vulnerable side. Dramatic-impulse type of personality disorder.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Constantly seeking attention while being excessively emotional, often engaging in dramatic or sexually provocative behaviors to gain attention. Speaks dramatically with strong opinions, but few facts or details to back them up. Easily influenced by others combined with shallow and rapidly changing emotions. Excessive concern with physical appearance and these individuals think relationships with others are closer than they actually are. Dramatic-impulse type of personality disorder.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Pervasive distrust and suspicion of others and their motives. Unjustified belief that others are trying to harm or deceive you. Unjustified suspicion of the loyalty or trustworthiness of others. Hesitancy to confide in others due to unreasonable fear that others will use the information against you. Perception of innocent remarks or nonthreatening situations as personal insults or attacks, and angry or hostile reaction to perceived slights or insults. Tendency to hold grudges, unjustified, recurrent suspicion that sexual partner is unfaithful. Odd-eccentric type of personality disorder.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Patterns of social detachment and limited emotional expression. Limited range of emotional expression and individuals prefer solitary activities, appear indifferent to praise or criticism, and may seem emotionally cold or detached. Limited range of emotional expression, inability to take pleasure in most activities, inability to pick up social cues, little or no interest in sex. Odd-eccentric type of personality disorder.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Peculiar dress, thinking, beliefs, speech or behavior. Odd perceptual experiences, such as hearing voices whispering your name. Flat emotions or inappropriate emotional responses combined with social anxiety and lack of or suspicious response to others. Magical thinking (believing you can influence people and events with your thoughts), and belief that certain causal incidents or events have hidden messages only meant for you. Odd-eccentric type of personality disorder.

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Preoccupation with details, orderliness and rules. Extreme perfectionism, resulting in dysfunction and distress when perfection is not achieved, such as feeling unable to finish a project because you don’t meet your own strict standards. Desire to be in control of people, tasks and situations, and inability to delegate tasks. Neglect of friends and enjoyable activities because of excessive commitment to work or a project. Inability to discard broken or worthless objects, rigid and stubborn, inflexible about morality, ethics, or values. Tight, miserly control over budgeting and spending money. Anxious-fearful type of personality disorder.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Excessive dependence on others and feeling the need to be taken care of. Submissive or clingy behavior toward others and fear of having to provide self care or fend for yourself if left alone. Lack of self confidence, requiring excessive advice and reassurance from others to make even small decisions. Difficulty starting or doing projects on your own due to lack of self confidence. Difficulty disagreeing with others, fearing disapproval. Tolerance of poor or abusive treatment, even when other options are avalible. Urgent need to start a new relationship when a close one has ended. Anxious-fearful type of personality disorder.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Too sensitive to criticism or rejection. Feeling inadequate, inferior or unattractive. Avoidance of work activities that require interpersonal contact. Socially inhibited, timid and isolated, avoiding new activities or meeting strangers. Extreme shyness in social situations and personal relationships along with fear of disapproval, embarrassment or ridicule. Anxious-fearful type of personality disorder.