Amity Institute of Psychology & Allied Science
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
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Amity Institute of Psychology & Allied Science
PERSONALITY
The totality of emotional and behavioral characteristics that are particular to a specific person
and that remain somewhat stable and predictable over time.
PERSONALITY TRAITS…
« enduring patterns of perceiving, relating and thinking about the environment and oneself that
are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal contexts. » (APA, 2000)
• Normal personality can be defined as, “the characteristic pattern of behaviors or modes of
thinking that determine a person’s adjustment to environment”.
• It includes the factors such as intellectual abilities, attitude, beliefs, moral values, emotional
reactivity.
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DEFINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
 According to WHO abnormal personality can be defined as “a deeply ingrained maladaptive
pattern of behavior, continuing throughout most of adult life, although often becoming less
obvious in middle or old age
 Personality disorders are diagnosed when personality traits become inflexible and maladaptive
and significantly interfere with how a person functions in society or cause the person emotional
distress.
 Longstanding, pervasive, inflexible, extreme, and persistent patterns of behavior and inner
experience
• Unstable positive sense of self
• Unable to sustain close relationships
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CHARACTERISTIC OF PERSONALITY DISORDER
 It is not a mental illness.
 It is maladaptive behavior.
 It is a long-lasting, most of the time a lifelong problem.
 It causes significant impairment in social or occupational functioning.
 It produces distress to the individual and to others.
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ETIOLOGY FACTORS:
1. Biological factors.
2. Developmental factors.
3. Social-cultural factors.
4. Psychological stressors.
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HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY
DISORDER
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A histrionic personality disorder is a condition in which people act in a very emotional and
dramatic way that draws attention to themselves.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
 A Mental Disorder
 Personality Orders-Cluster B
 A pervasive pattern of excessive emotional and attention-seeking behavior
 May be diagnosed as mild or severe
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Associated Features Symptoms Self-centeredness
Discomfort when not the center of attention
Interactions that are inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior
Shallow expressions of emotions
Use of physical appearance to draw attention
Self-dramatization, theatrically and exaggerated expression of emotion
Having a low tolerance for delayed gratification
Being easily influenced by other people
Overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval
Being easily bored by routine
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 Presence of five or more of the following signs of excessive
emotionality and attention-seeking shown in many contexts by
early adulthood:
• Strong need to be the center of attention
• Inappropriate sexually seductive behavior
• Rapidly shifting expression of emotions
• Use of physical appearance to draw attention to self
• Speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail
• Exaggerated, theatrical emotional expression
• Overly Suggestible (easily influenced by others)
• Misreads relationships as more intimate than they are
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Associated Features Subtypes
 Appeasing (Dependent Feature): patch-up troubles; moderating tempers by yielding; sacrifices
self for commendation, dependent on others for praise & guidance
 Vivacious (Narcissistic Feature): vigorous, charming, bubbly, impulsive; wants praise for their
“superiority”; exaggerate the intimacy of their relationships
 Tempestuous(Negativistic Feature): impulsive, out of control; moody complaints, sulking;
periodically inflamed; turbulent
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 Disingenuous(Antisocial Feature): underhanded, double-dealing, scheming, contriving, plotting;
false-hearted; egocentric, insincere; superficial, impulsive
 Theatrical(Variant of “pure” pattern): affected, mannered, put-on; postures are striking; eyecatching; markets self- appearance, simulates desirable dramatic poses.
 Infantile (Borderline Feature): high-strung, volatile emotions, childlike hysteria and nascent
pouting; self-destructiveness, chronic feelings of deep emptiness
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Etiology
Potential causes of the disorder are unknown but mental health professionals believe that both
learned and biological factors play an important role
 Biological
 Possible genetic susceptibility
 Genes inheritance
 Psychological
 Reciprocal determinism: the way people, the environment and thoughts influence their
behavior.
 Defense mechanisms and psychosexual development stages
Oral Stage
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Defense mechanisms used:
Repression.
Denial.
Dissociation
May display two or more personalities.
Displacement
Rationalization
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Prevalence
 Approximately in 2%-3% of the general population
 Rates of about 10%-15% in the inpatient and outpatient mental health institution
when assessment is used
 More frequently diagnosed in
Females; but equal prevalence rates for males and females
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Prognosis
Long-lasting
Treatment can take a minimum of 1-3 years or longer
As they grow older, the individual’s symptoms begin to decrease
Older people have less energy
Never stay long enough in psychotherapeutic treatment to make changes
Possibility to change into a different type of personality disorder
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