Personality Disorders

What Are Personality Disorders?

People with personality disorders have long-standing thinking patterns and acting that differ from what society considers usual or customary. They are often unaware that they have a problem and do not believe they have anything to control. They have trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people. It causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities, work and school. In some cases, you may not realise 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 four standard features:

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

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

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 subjective distress. This means the symptoms are distressing to the person with the condition, and the signs make it difficult for them to function well in society.

Ten types of personality disorders

The ten various 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 schizophrenia, including inappropriate or flat affect, 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.

In her book Abnormal Psychology, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema states that ”people with these disorders tend to be manipulative, volatile and uncaring in social relationships. They are prone to impulsive, sometimes violent behaviours that show little regard for their 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 criticised 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, disorganised or impulsive.

The five factors that define your personality

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