Classification of Different Kinds of Personality Disorders
Research has shown that personality disorders tend to fall into three groups, according to their emotional 'flavour':
Cluster A: 'Suspicious'
Cluster B: 'Emotional and impulsive'
Cluster C: 'Anxious'
As you read through the descriptions of each type, you may well recognise some aspects of your own personality. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have a personality disorder. Some of these characteristics may even be helpful in some areas of your life. However, if you do have a personality disorder, these aspects of your personality will be quite extreme. They may spoil your life, and often the lives of those around you.
People may display the signs of more than one personality disorder.
Cluster A: 'Suspicious'
Paranoid
* suspicious
* feel that other people are being nasty to you (even when evidence shows this isn’t true)
* sensitive to rejection
* tend to hold grudges
Schizoid
* emotionally 'cold'
* don't like contact with other people, prefer your own company
* have a rich fantasy world
Schiztypal
* eccentric behaviour
* odd ideas
* difficulties with thinking
* lack of emotion, or inappropriate emotional reactions
* can see or hear strange things
* related to schizophrenia, the mental illness
Cluster B: 'Emotional and impulsive'
Antisocial Or Dissocial
* don't care about the feelings of others
* are easily frustrated
* tend to be aggressive
* commit crimes
* find it difficult to make intimate relationships
* impulsive - do things on the spur of the moment without thinking about them
* don’t feel guilty
* don’t learn from unpleasant experiences
Borderline Or Emotional Unstable
* impulsive
* find it hard to control emotions
* feel bad about yourself
* often self-harm, e.g. cutting yourself or making suicide attempts
* feel 'empty’
* make relationships quickly, but easily lose them
* can feel paranoid or depressed
* when stressed, may hear noises or voices
Histrionic
* over-dramatise events
* self-centered
* show strong emotions, but which change quickly and don't last long
* can be suggestible
* worry a lot about your appearance
* crave new things and excitement
* can be seductive
Narcissistic
* have a strong sense of your own self-importance
* dream of unlimited success, power and intellectual brilliance
* crave attention from other people, but show few warm feelings in return
* exploit others
* ask for favours that you do not then return
Cluster C: 'Anxious'
Obsessive
* worry and doubt a lot
* perfectionist - always check things
* rigid in what you do
* cautious, preoccupied with detail
* worry about doing the wrong thing
* find it hard to adapt to new situations
* often have high moral standards
* judgemental
* sensitive to criticism
* can have obsessional thoughts and images (although these are not as bad as those in obsessive-compulsive disorder)
Avoidant
* very anxious and tense
* worry a lot
* feel insecure and inferior
* have to be liked and accepted
* extremely sensitive to criticism
Dependant
* passive
* rely on others to make their own decisions
* do what other people want you to do
* find it hard to cope with daily chores
* feel hopeless and incompetent
* easily feel abandoned by others
Research has shown that personality disorders tend to fall into three groups, according to their emotional 'flavour':
Cluster A: 'Suspicious'
Cluster B: 'Emotional and impulsive'
Cluster C: 'Anxious'
As you read through the descriptions of each type, you may well recognise some aspects of your own personality. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have a personality disorder. Some of these characteristics may even be helpful in some areas of your life. However, if you do have a personality disorder, these aspects of your personality will be quite extreme. They may spoil your life, and often the lives of those around you.
People may display the signs of more than one personality disorder.
Cluster A: 'Suspicious'
Paranoid
* suspicious
* feel that other people are being nasty to you (even when evidence shows this isn’t true)
* sensitive to rejection
* tend to hold grudges
Schizoid
* emotionally 'cold'
* don't like contact with other people, prefer your own company
* have a rich fantasy world
Schiztypal
* eccentric behaviour
* odd ideas
* difficulties with thinking
* lack of emotion, or inappropriate emotional reactions
* can see or hear strange things
* related to schizophrenia, the mental illness
Cluster B: 'Emotional and impulsive'
Antisocial Or Dissocial
* don't care about the feelings of others
* are easily frustrated
* tend to be aggressive
* commit crimes
* find it difficult to make intimate relationships
* impulsive - do things on the spur of the moment without thinking about them
* don’t feel guilty
* don’t learn from unpleasant experiences
Borderline Or Emotional Unstable
* impulsive
* find it hard to control emotions
* feel bad about yourself
* often self-harm, e.g. cutting yourself or making suicide attempts
* feel 'empty’
* make relationships quickly, but easily lose them
* can feel paranoid or depressed
* when stressed, may hear noises or voices
Histrionic
* over-dramatise events
* self-centered
* show strong emotions, but which change quickly and don't last long
* can be suggestible
* worry a lot about your appearance
* crave new things and excitement
* can be seductive
Narcissistic
* have a strong sense of your own self-importance
* dream of unlimited success, power and intellectual brilliance
* crave attention from other people, but show few warm feelings in return
* exploit others
* ask for favours that you do not then return
Cluster C: 'Anxious'
Obsessive
* worry and doubt a lot
* perfectionist - always check things
* rigid in what you do
* cautious, preoccupied with detail
* worry about doing the wrong thing
* find it hard to adapt to new situations
* often have high moral standards
* judgemental
* sensitive to criticism
* can have obsessional thoughts and images (although these are not as bad as those in obsessive-compulsive disorder)
Avoidant
* very anxious and tense
* worry a lot
* feel insecure and inferior
* have to be liked and accepted
* extremely sensitive to criticism
Dependant
* passive
* rely on others to make their own decisions
* do what other people want you to do
* find it hard to cope with daily chores
* feel hopeless and incompetent
* easily feel abandoned by others