Thursday, March 8, 2012

RANDOMNESS- Types of Personality Disorders

Today's blog is about Personality Disorders...
Do you have a family member or  friend you might have secretly diagnosed as crazy?  That person could be suffering from a personality disorder. A personality is a vital tool in the communication process.  Having a disorder can negatively affect communication with others professionally or personally.  According to Wikipedia "personality is defined as the particular combination of emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral response patterns of an individual. These psychological patterns begin at development."


Isabel Briggs developed an instrument to measure personality types; the different types are determined by testing. If you've taken anything past general psych you know or have done a Myers Briggs assessment.  The test is comprised of 16 different personality types distinguished in 4 groups called personality types.  The types are indicators of how the respondents react in personal and profession life.  

Now as we understand it persons who have personality disorders are defined as individuals who have great difficulty dealing with other people. They tend to be inflexible, rigid, and unable to respond to the changes and demands of life. Although they feel that their behavior patterns are “normal” or “right,” people with personality disorders tend to have a narrow view of the world and find it difficult to participate in social activities. (The Mental Health of America)

There are so many personality disorder types MHA only defines a few.  These few fall into 3 clusters:  

§  Cluster A: Odd or eccentric behavior


  • Schizoid Personality Disorder. Introverted, withdrawn, solitary, emotionally cold, and distant. Example: a person suffering from schizoid personality is more of a daydreamer than a practical action taker.


  • Paranoid Personality Disorder.  Untrusting, unforgiving, and prone to angry or aggressive outbursts without justification because they perceive others as unfaithful, disloyal, condescending or deceitful.  Example: jealous, guarded, secretive, and scheming, and may appear to be emotionally “cold” or excessively serious. ROCKWELL 80's: CLASSIC  

  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder. A pattern of peculiarities; they have odd or eccentric manners of speaking or dressing. Strange, outlandish or paranoid beliefs and thoughts are common. Have difficulties forming relationships and experience extreme anxiety in social situations. They may react inappropriately or not react at all during a conversation or they may talk to themselves. Example: person display signs of “magical thinking” by saying they can see into the future or read other people’s minds.
§  Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional or erratic behavior


  • Antisocial Personality DisorderBorderline Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
§  Cluster C: Anxious fearful behavior


  • Avoidant Personality DisorderDependent Personality Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
    I'm sure we all know someone who may fall into one or many of these categories.  Im certain I've even dated a few or perhaps there is one or two that attends the family picnic every year. Hope you enjoy some more random information. 
     More descriptions found at the link below 
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/personality-disorders



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