THE TYPES OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM

Understanding

Personality Disorders

from a Professional Perspective

INTRODUCTION

Many have a base level idea of

what a specific personality disorder

entails, but this can be marred by

stereotypes, misinformation and

societal misconceptions of mental

illness.

This slideshow will explore

personality disorders through their

Cluster categories, then explain

them in more detail.

CLUSTERS

OF DISORDERS

Personality disorders are grouped into

three different categories, defined as

clusters. Each cluster covers a different

type classification of disorders.

Cluster A – These disorders are often

odd and eccentric in nature.

Cluster B – These disorders

encompass more dramatic, emotional

tendencies.

Cluster C – These disorders are more

fearful or anxious in nature.

CLUSTER A

PARANOID

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Paranoid personality disorder is

characterized by irrational suspicion.

People who suffer from this disorder often

believe the world is out to get them, and

will connect unrelated, disjointed ideas in

order to mentally justify their paranoia.

Those who suffer from this disorder often

mischaracterize others as having

malicious intent, causing them to

disconnect from others around them.

CLUSTER A

SCHIZOID

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Sufferers of schizoid personality disorder

often lack the capability to connect with

others. They exhibit extreme levels of

apathy that cannot be connected to an

outside source, like autism.

These people often suffer from a severe

lack of expression. While they may be

capable of experiencing an emotion, their

ability to show this emotion is severely

limited.

CLUSTER A

SCHIZOTYPAL

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Unlike schizoid personality disorder

where a person lacks the ability to

connect with others, those who suffer

from schizotypal personality disorder feel

extremely uncomfortable connecting with

others.

This heavily prevents them from

interacting socially with others in a normal

way, causing them to act aloof and

eccentrically when faced with interaction.

CLUSTER B

ANTISOCIAL

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Those with this disorder aren’t antisocial

in the way that they don’t interact with

others. Instead, “anti” refers to not living

within the societal norms in a way that is

often invasive and dangerous.

Those that suffer with this disorder often

disregard the safety, comfort and wishes

of others, lacking empathy and

understanding of why their actions are

dangerous or abusive.

CLUSTER B

BORDERLINE

PERSONALITY DISORDER

BPD sufferers have a very limited grasp

on normal emotional reactions. Because

they feel invalidated by others, they feel

like they must create scenarios in which

they gain the validation they otherwise

lack.

This disorder can effect someone’s ability

to care for themselves and often fractures

their relationships with those around

them.

CLUSTER B

HISTRIONIC

PERSONALITY DISORDER

The behaviors of those with histrionic

personality disorder are attention-seeking

– often to the detriment of the person

afflicted.

These sufferers will often go out of their

way and put themselves into harmful

situations in order to gain the attention of

others.

CLUSTER B

NARCISSISTIC

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Those that suffer from narcissism as a

form of disorder have an overly-inflated

ego. They have grandiose fantasies

about their abilities and status that far

exceed their reality, and often lack

empathy with others due to their belief

that they are the most important and

beloved person in a scenario.

This is often a delusion, as many friends

and family members of those who suffer

with this disorder alienate themselves

from the affected person.

CLUSTER C

AVOIDANT

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Those diagnosed with avoidant

personality disorder will go out of their

way to avoid interacting with others

because they don’t want to be perceived

negatively.

These individuals believe that they are

incapable of interacting with others due to

inadequacy, thus close themselves off to

avoid facing this fear.

CLUSTER C

DEPENDENT

PERSONALITY DISORDER

This disorder is effectively the opposite of

avoidant personality disorder.

People with dependent personality

disorder will go out of their way to make

sure they are taken care of by others at

all times. They feel that they must interact

with and be cared for by others in order to

become adequate, though this need is

never truly met in their eyes.

CLUSTER C

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE

DISORDER

While the general idea of OCD is

someone being a neat freak, the reality is

that the diagnosis is much broader.

Those with OCD feel a prolonged,

debilitating sense of anxiety unless they

follow strict rules or rituals which they

believe will keep the anxiety at bay. This

can including patterns, habits, cleanliness

and other forms of perfectionism.