PSY 657
Exam 3
Chapter 10 – Personality Disorder
- Personality
o Set of unique traits and behaviors that characterize the individual. There are 5
basic personality traits that can be used to characterize normal personality:
neuroticism, extraversion/introversion, openness to experience,
agreeableness/antagonism and conscientiousness (OCEAN)
- Personality Disorder
o Some people have certain traits that are so inflexible and maladaptive that they
are unable to function effectively or meet the demands of their culture in which
case we say that individual has a personality disorder. The general features that
characterize most personality disorders are chronic interpersonal difficulties,
problems with one’s identity or sense of self, and an inability to function
adequately in society. A personality disorder is diagnosed when there is an
enduring pattern of behavior or inner experience that is pervasive and inflexible,
stable across time and of long duration. It must also either cause clinically
significant distress or impairment in functioning and be manifested in at least
two of the following areas: cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, or
impulse control.
- Summary of Personality Disorders
- Cluster A
o People with these disorders often seem odd or eccentric, with unusual behavior
ranging from distrust and suspiciousness to social detachment.
o Paranoid Personality Disorder
Suspicious and distrustful of others, often reading hidden meanings into
ordinary remarks. Tend to see themselves as blameless, instead blaming
others even to a point of ascribing evil motives to others. Chronically
tense and on guard. Commonly bear grudges and refuse to forgive
perceived insults and slights and are quick to react with anger and
sometimes violent behavior. Most of the times they are in clear contact
with reality and aren’t usually psychotic. Do appear to be at elevated
liability for schizophrenia.
o Schizoid Personality Disorder
Have difficulty forming social relationships and usually lack much interest
in doing so. Unable to express their feelings and are seen by others as
cold and distant. Lack social skills and are classified as loners or introverts
with solitary interests and occupations. They tend not to take pleasure in
many activities, including sexual activity and rarely marry. Show a
generally apathetic mood. There is a link between this and autism.
o Schizotypal Personality Disorder
, Also excessively introverted and have pervasive social and interpersonal
deficits, but in addition they have cognitive and perceptual distortions as
well as oddities and eccentricities in their communication and behavior.
Although contact with reality is usually maintained, highly personalized
and superstitious thinking is characteristic of people with schizotypal
personality. They often believe that they have magical powers and may
engage in magical rituals. Other cognitive perceptual problems include
ideas of reference (the belief that conversations or gestures of others
have special meaning or personal significance), odd speech and paranoid
beliefs. Oddities in thinking, speech and other behaviors are the most
stable characteristics. Has moderate heritability. Linked remarkably to
schizophrenia.
- Cluster B
o They share a tendency to be dramatic, emotional and erratic.
o Histrionic Personality Disorder
Excessive attention seeking behavior and emotionality are the key
characteristics. Tend to feel unappreciated if they are not the center of
attention, their lively dramatic and excessively extraverted styles often
ensure that they can charm others into attending to them. May attempt
to control their partners through seductive behavior and emotional
manipulation but also show a good deal of dependence. Their speech is
often vague and impressionistic, and they are usually considered self-
centered, vain and excessively concerned about the approval of others
who see them as overly reactive, shallow and insincere.
Highly comorbid with borderline, antisocial, narcissistic and dependent
personality disorder.
May be characterized as involving extreme versions of two common
normal personality traits: extraversion and neuroticism
o Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Exaggerated sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with being
admired, and a lack of empathy for the feelings of others
2 subtypes are grandiose and vulnerable narcissism
The grandiose presentation of narcissism is manifested by trait related to
extreme grandiosity, aggression, and dominance. These are reflected in a
strong tendency to overestimate one’s own abilities and accomplishments
while underestimating the abilities of others
Their sense of entitlement is also associated with their unwillingness to
forgive others for perceived slights, and they easily take offense.
Vulnerable narcissists have a very fragile and unstable sense of self-
esteem and for these individuals’ arrogance and condescension is merely
a façade for intense shame and hypersensitivity to rejection and criticism.
Hard for them to take the perspective of others,
o Antisocial Personality Disorder
Exam 3
Chapter 10 – Personality Disorder
- Personality
o Set of unique traits and behaviors that characterize the individual. There are 5
basic personality traits that can be used to characterize normal personality:
neuroticism, extraversion/introversion, openness to experience,
agreeableness/antagonism and conscientiousness (OCEAN)
- Personality Disorder
o Some people have certain traits that are so inflexible and maladaptive that they
are unable to function effectively or meet the demands of their culture in which
case we say that individual has a personality disorder. The general features that
characterize most personality disorders are chronic interpersonal difficulties,
problems with one’s identity or sense of self, and an inability to function
adequately in society. A personality disorder is diagnosed when there is an
enduring pattern of behavior or inner experience that is pervasive and inflexible,
stable across time and of long duration. It must also either cause clinically
significant distress or impairment in functioning and be manifested in at least
two of the following areas: cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, or
impulse control.
- Summary of Personality Disorders
- Cluster A
o People with these disorders often seem odd or eccentric, with unusual behavior
ranging from distrust and suspiciousness to social detachment.
o Paranoid Personality Disorder
Suspicious and distrustful of others, often reading hidden meanings into
ordinary remarks. Tend to see themselves as blameless, instead blaming
others even to a point of ascribing evil motives to others. Chronically
tense and on guard. Commonly bear grudges and refuse to forgive
perceived insults and slights and are quick to react with anger and
sometimes violent behavior. Most of the times they are in clear contact
with reality and aren’t usually psychotic. Do appear to be at elevated
liability for schizophrenia.
o Schizoid Personality Disorder
Have difficulty forming social relationships and usually lack much interest
in doing so. Unable to express their feelings and are seen by others as
cold and distant. Lack social skills and are classified as loners or introverts
with solitary interests and occupations. They tend not to take pleasure in
many activities, including sexual activity and rarely marry. Show a
generally apathetic mood. There is a link between this and autism.
o Schizotypal Personality Disorder
, Also excessively introverted and have pervasive social and interpersonal
deficits, but in addition they have cognitive and perceptual distortions as
well as oddities and eccentricities in their communication and behavior.
Although contact with reality is usually maintained, highly personalized
and superstitious thinking is characteristic of people with schizotypal
personality. They often believe that they have magical powers and may
engage in magical rituals. Other cognitive perceptual problems include
ideas of reference (the belief that conversations or gestures of others
have special meaning or personal significance), odd speech and paranoid
beliefs. Oddities in thinking, speech and other behaviors are the most
stable characteristics. Has moderate heritability. Linked remarkably to
schizophrenia.
- Cluster B
o They share a tendency to be dramatic, emotional and erratic.
o Histrionic Personality Disorder
Excessive attention seeking behavior and emotionality are the key
characteristics. Tend to feel unappreciated if they are not the center of
attention, their lively dramatic and excessively extraverted styles often
ensure that they can charm others into attending to them. May attempt
to control their partners through seductive behavior and emotional
manipulation but also show a good deal of dependence. Their speech is
often vague and impressionistic, and they are usually considered self-
centered, vain and excessively concerned about the approval of others
who see them as overly reactive, shallow and insincere.
Highly comorbid with borderline, antisocial, narcissistic and dependent
personality disorder.
May be characterized as involving extreme versions of two common
normal personality traits: extraversion and neuroticism
o Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Exaggerated sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with being
admired, and a lack of empathy for the feelings of others
2 subtypes are grandiose and vulnerable narcissism
The grandiose presentation of narcissism is manifested by trait related to
extreme grandiosity, aggression, and dominance. These are reflected in a
strong tendency to overestimate one’s own abilities and accomplishments
while underestimating the abilities of others
Their sense of entitlement is also associated with their unwillingness to
forgive others for perceived slights, and they easily take offense.
Vulnerable narcissists have a very fragile and unstable sense of self-
esteem and for these individuals’ arrogance and condescension is merely
a façade for intense shame and hypersensitivity to rejection and criticism.
Hard for them to take the perspective of others,
o Antisocial Personality Disorder
