PSY 366 Chapter 9.2 - Cluster B Personality Disorders Study Notes

Core Feature: An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that manifests in multiple contexts.
- Cognition: Influences how individuals process their self-image, perceptions of others, and interpretations of events.
- Affectivity: Relates to the range, intensity, and stability of emotions.
- Interpersonal Functioning: Concerns the ability to interact and maintain relationships with others.
- Impulse Control: Refers to the capacity to manage urges and impulses.
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria require that:
- Two or more of the above features be present.
- The pattern must be inflexible and pervasive across various situations.
- The disorder must be stable over a long duration, often traceable to adolescence or early adulthood.
- The individual's behavior deviates significantly from cultural norms and expectations.
- This deviation should cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Core Feature: Persistent disregard for and violation of the rights of others.
- Characteristics Include:
- Unlawful behavior.
- Deceitfulness: Involves repeated lying, utilizing aliases, and conning others.
- Impulsivity or a failure to plan ahead.
- Irritability or aggressiveness, often resulting in physical violence.
- Reckless disregard for personal and others’ safety.
- Irresponsibility in fulfilling work or financial obligations.
- A lack of remorse for actions taken (requires three or more of the above characteristics).
Diagnostic Criteria:
- Individuals should only be diagnosed if there has been a preceding pattern of Conduct Disorder during childhood.
- A common rule of thumb states: "Conduct Disorder" equates to criminal behavior.

Core Feature: Characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and short-term emotional responses.
- Key Characteristics:
- An underlying fear of abandonment leading to frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
- Unstable and intense interpersonal relationships that involve alternating between devaluation and idealization of others (often referred to as "splitting").
- An unstable self-image or identity disturbance.
- Impulsivity in potentially dangerous behaviors (requires two or more instances).
- Presence of suicidal behaviors, gestures, or thoughts, or self-mutilation.
- Affective instability characterized by high emotional reactivity.
- Chronic feelings of emptiness.
- Difficulty controlling anger or inappropriate anger expressions.
- Episodes of stress-related paranoia or dissociation.
Diagnostic Criteria: Must meet five or more of the above characteristics.

Core Feature: Marked by excessive emotionality and a pattern of attention-seeking behavior.
- Characteristics Include:
- Discomfort when not the center of attention.
- Exhibiting seductive or provocative behavior.
- Shifting and shallow emotions.
- Utilizing appearance to draw attention to oneself.
- Speech that is impressionistic and vague.
- Dramatic or exaggerated display of emotions.
- High suggestibility, meaning easily influenced by others.
- Perception of relationships as being more intimate than they truly are.
Diagnostic Criteria: Requires five or more of the characteristics mentioned above.

Core Feature: Encompasses grandiosity, a profound lack of empathy, and an extreme need for admiration.
- Characteristics Include:
- A grandiose sense of self-importance.
- Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
- Belief in being “special” or unique and feeling entitled to only associate with other high-status individuals or institutions.
- A requirement for excessive admiration.
- Possessing a sense of entitlement.
- Exhibit exploitative interpersonal behaviors.
- Lack of empathy towards others.
- Often envious individuals or believes that others are envious of them.
- Displays of arrogant or haughty behaviors and attitudes.
Diagnostic Criteria: Must present five or more of the identified characteristics.