1. Personality Disorders
Excessively rigid behavior patterns, or ways of relating to others, that ultimately become self-defeating.
Most people with Personality Disorders, in contrast with people who suffer from Mood or Anxiety Disorders, see their behaviors or feelings as natural parts of themselves. As a result, most are brought to the attention of mental health professionals by a friend or family member.
Odd or Eccentric Behavior:
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Behavior:
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Anxious or Fearful Behavior:
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder

2. Odd or Eccentric
Paranoid: undue suspiciousness of other’ motives, but not to the point of delusion
Overly sensitive to criticism (real or imagined)
Question the sincerity and trustworthiness of friends
Hypervigilant, as though they are under constant threat of betrayal or harm
Tend to be: argumentative, cold, aloof, scheming, devious, and humorless
Not delusional (as in paranoid schizophrenia)
Unlikely to seek treatment
Schizoid: persistent lack of interest in social relationships, flattened affect, and social withdrawal
Outer Appearance:
Loner or ‘eccentric’
Emotions normally appear shallow or dampened
Indifferent to praise or criticism
Inner Lives generally compensate (not balance) for lack of outer emotion
Schizotypal: eccentricities of thought and behavior, but without clearly psychotic features
Have difficulty forming close relationships (lack of interest)
Behavior, mannerisms, and thought patterns seem peculiar, but not disturbed
May experience unusual perceptions or illusions (“feeling the presence” of a deceased family member)
Common among those who believe they have a ‘sixth sense’ or can tell the future
Vague or generally abstract speech, unkempt appearance, little emotion registered in facial expressions

3. Anxious or Fearful
Avoidant: avoidance of social relationships due to fear of rejection
Absolutely terrified of rejection
Few relationships outside of family
Have interest in, and feelings toward other people (unlike schizoid personalities)
Severe form of social phobia
Dependent: difficulty making independent decision and display overly dependent behavior
Seek advice in making even the smallest decision
Overly submissive and clinging in their relationships, extremely fearful of separation
Avoid positions of responsibility
Often linked to other psychological disorders:
Major depression
Bipolar
Social phobia
Often linked to physical problems:
Hypertension
Cancer
Gastrointestinal disorders (ulcers, colitis)
**culture is important as many of the ‘symptoms’ of dependent disorder are perfectly normal in some cultures

4. Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic
Borderline: abrupt shifts in mood, lack of a coherent sense of self, and unpredictable, impulsive behavior
Alternate between extremes of adulation and loathing
Intense fear of abandonment makes them clinging and demanding in their relationships
View people as all good or all bad, shifting abruptly between extremes
May show fleeting psychotic behaviors when stressed, but are not as dysfunctional as those with psychotic disorders.
Have difficulty regulating their emotions
May harbor intense psychological pain, and exhibit features such as chronic anger, loneliness, or boredom
Self-mutilation:
Fairly common among borderline women
Men tend to show outward signs of aggression.
Often motivated by need to escape from troubling emotions or “numbness”

5. Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic
Histrionic: excessive need for attention, praise, reassurance, and approval
Emotions seem shallow, exaggerated, and volatile
Often flirtatious and playful, but are too wrapped up in themselves to develop real relationships
Setback or lack of attention result in depression
Narcissistic adoption of an inflated self-image and demands for attention and admiration
Brag about accomplishments and expect praise, even when ‘accomplishment’ is ordinary
Lack empathy for others
Preoccupied with fantasies of success and power, ideal love, or recognition for beauty or brilliance

6. Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic
Antisocial: antisocial and irresponsible behavior and a lack of remorse for misdeeds
Often violate the rights of others, disregard social norms, and break the law
Pattern of behavior begins in childhood or adolescence
Two dimensions:
Personality: selfishness, lack of empathy, callous and remorseless use of others, disregard for others’ feelings or welfare
Behavioral: unstable and antisocial lifestyle, poor employment history, unstable relationships
Not all criminals show signs of psychopathy, and not all people with psychopathic personalities become criminals.
Film Clip: The Dark Knight

7. Treatment
Psychodynamic therapy
Behavior therapy
Cognitive therapy

8. Assignment
Explain, in a paragraph or two (complete sentences please), how personality disorders differ from other psychological disorders.