Personality Disorders

What Are Personality Disorders?

People with personality disorders have long-standing patterns of thinking and acting that differ from what society considers usual or normal. They often are not aware that they have a problem and do not believe they have anything to control. They have trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people. This causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities, work and school. In some cases, you may not realize that you have a personality disorder because your way of thinking and behaving seems natural to you. And you may blame others for the challenges you face. Personality disorders usually begin in the teenage years or early adulthood.

Personality disorders all have 4 common features:

Distorted thinking patterns,
Problematic emotional responses,
Over- or under-regulated impulse control, and
Interpersonal difficulties.

These four key features combine in various ways to form ten specific personality disorders identified in DSM-5 (APA, 2013). Each disorder lists asset of criteria reflecting observable characteristics associated with that disorder.

In order to be diagnosed with a specific personality disorder, a person must meet the minimum number of criteria established for that disorder. Furthermore, to meet the diagnostic requirements for a psychiatric disorder, the symptoms must cause functional impairment and/or subjective distress. This means the symptoms are distressing to the person with the disorder and/or the symptoms make it difficult for them to function well in society.

10 types of personality disorders

The ten different personality disorders can be grouped into three clusters based on descriptive similarities within each cluster. These clusters are:

Cluster A is the “odd, eccentric” cluster. (They are dominated by distorted thinking.)

Paranoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder

In her book Abnormal Psychology Susan Nolen-Hoeksema stated that ”people with these disorders have symptoms similar to those of people with schizophrenia, including inappropriate or flat effect, odd thought and speech patterns, and paranoia.” She adds that people with these disorders maintain their grasp on reality however.

Cluster B is called the dramatic, emotional, and erratic cluster: (They share problems with impulse control and emotional regulation.)

Borderline Personality Disorder.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Histrionic Personality Disorder.
Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Susan Nolen-Hoeksema states in her book Abnormal Psychology that ”people with these disorders have a tendency to be manipulative, volatile and uncaring in social relationships. They are prone to impulsive, sometimes violent behaviors that show little regard for their own safety or the safety or needs of others.”

Cluster C is the “anxious, fearful” cluster: (They all share a high level of anxiety)

Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Hoeksema states that people with these disorders are ”extremely concerned about being criticized or abandoned by others and therefore have dysfunctional relationships with others.

Source: Nolen-Hoeksema, Susan. Abnormal Psychology, 6th Edition. 2014. Chapter 9: 252- 253

More about personality & personality disorders

What is personality?

Personality is long-standing patterns of perceiving, feelings, thinking about and relating to oneself and the environment

What is a personality trait?

A personality trait is a prominent aspect of personality that is consistent across time – for example someone is outgoing, caring, disorganized or impulsive.

The 5 factors that defines your personality

According to McCrae & Costa everyone’s personality is composed of 5 different factors,often referred to as the Big 5, namely: