Personality Disorder Types - Research Paper Example

Personality Disorder Types Introduction Personality is a set of predictable and enduring characteristics evident in an individual. Diverse persons manifest diverse sets of personality that identify them as individuals. Therefore, personality is a basic phenomenon that entails understanding and predicting behavior (Butcher, 2007). Nevertheless, personalities are prone to disorders. The concept of abnormal personality explores the disorders across individuals. There are diverse sets of disorders in personality (Mangal, 2008). Paranoid, narcissistic, and avoidant are examples of personality disorders. Each disorder entails an exclusive behavior for the individual. Therefore, the behaviors under the disorders propagate the evaluation and prediction of an individual’s personality (Comer, 2010). Paranoid, narcissistic, and avoidance are abnormal sets of behavior that manifest personality disorder. Paranoid personality disorder is under Cluster A. This cluster entails eccentric patterns of thought. Persons under this cluster therefore manifest an odd system of thinking (Butcher, 2007). In this case, paranoid is a personality disorder under this cluster. Paranoid individuals exhibit an illness called paranoia (Hersen, 2001). This illness involves elevated trends of mistrust towards the society. For example, a paranoid person may say “people are avoiding me.” This is a common statement in paranoid persons. Paranoid persons are persistently suspicious to everyone around them. They are generally insecure and suspect other people even when there is no justification (Mangal, 2008). In most instances, paranoid individuals cannot justify their suspicion to others with realistic grounds. Paranoid personality disorder has its onset in early adulthood (Comer, 2010). This is the specific time for the initiation of paranoid personality disorder. Therefore, this personality disorder takes an elevating trend after the onset of early adulthood. This personality disorder is also gender specific (Lejuez, 2013). Men are more vulnerable to paranoid personality disorder than women. Consequently, men manifest more tendencies of paranoia than women. Persons with paranoid personality disorder manifest a specific set of symptoms. Psychologists and the society use the symptoms to determine the nature of personality in a victim (Butcher, 2007). Therefore, the society identifies the paranoid persons through the symptoms. People suffering from paranoia manifest a guarding attitude. They view other people as harmful and demeaning towards them. These beliefs impair their relationships with other people (Comer, 2010). Therefore, close relationships are non-existent to paranoid people. Their protective attitudes obstruct them from forming close and meaningful relationships. Paranoid persons also manifest pronounced fear in confiding in others. In this case, they have a high tendency of formulating and upholding grudges for lengthy durations (Hersen, 2001). They are also hostile and extremely argumentative. Narcissistic personality disorder is under Cluster B of personality abnormalities. This cluster is also referred to as “dramatic.” (Mangal, 2008) The persons with narcissistic personality disorder exhibit emotional instabilities. The self-image of the individuals is highly distorted (Hersen, 2001). The cluster B narcissistic disorder entails a specific set of characteristics in the victim. Impaired empathy is a major symptom of the narcissistic disorder. These individuals lack regard to other people in the society. Narcissism entails an exaggerated self-admiration (Comer, 2010). This principle and perception deprives the empathy of the persons substantially. Narcissistic people are extremely obsessed with the love towards themselves. Consequently, they always have the urge to possess power over people in society. They diligently seek power and attention from every person around them. Narcissistic persons are always pre-occupied with issues of success. Their exaggerated passion for power counts as a motivation towards their success (Butcher, 2007). However, their enduring quest for power and attention does not represent true confidence within them. Therefore, their zeal for power does not necessarily imply that they possess confidence. In this case, their quest for attention and power manifest an impaired self-esteem. They remain aggressive to power and attention as a defense mechanism for their impaired self-esteem (Mangal, 2008). Therefore, they get insensitive and demand attention from the people around them. Lack of empathy remains a consequence of their insensitivity towards attaining power and attention. Exaggerations in their achievements and capacities are their major preferences (Comer, 2010). The definite source of narcissism has not yet been established by psychologists. However, diverse factors may lead to this personality disorder. For instance, early childhood encounters with the caregivers may instill this personality disorder to an individual (Halgin, 2000). Psychological temperaments to manage stress may also be a resultant factor to this personality disorder. Avoidance personality disorder is under Cluster C. According to research, an average of 1% of a total populace manifests avoidance (Hersen, 2001). Avoidant personality disorder involves a set of symptoms. These symptoms facilitate the identification of avoidant people in society. They are a paramount tool for psychologists and the general society to identify avoidant persons. Individuals with the avoidant personality disorder manifest a major impairment in their confidence in the social context (Halgin, 2000). Therefore, avoidant people are beyond mere shyness. Their inferiority complex marks an extreme level. For example, an avoidant person will feel awkward in a social event. They would probably seclude themselves from the rest of the people to avoid interactions (Butcher, 2007). In this case, they cannot develop meaningful relationships due to their feeling of inadequacy. Most adolescents and children manifest avoidance tendencies in their interactions. However, conducting psychological therapy is a challenge, since the avoidance tendencies are part of development in these stages. Conclusion Cluster A, B and C entail a set of personality disorders. Paranoia, narcissism, and avoidance belong to the clusters respectively. The traits and characteristics in the clusters are mutually exclusive. However, there is a major commonality in the impaired self-confidence and the incapability to form and nurture close relationships. Paranoid persons cannot nurture close relationships due to their suspicious perceptions. Narcissistic individuals cannot nurture relationships due to their deprived empathy. Avoidance people cannot also nurture relationships due to their extreme shyness and inadequacy attitude. References Butcher, J. (2007). Abnormal psychology 15Ed. Boston, MA: Pearson Allyn and Bacon. Comer, R. J. (2010). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology. New York: Worth. Hersen, M., & Van, H. V. B. (2001). Advanced abnormal psychology. New York, NY: Kluwer Acad. Plenum Publ. Halgin, R. P., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2000). Abnormal psychology: Clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Lejuez, C. (2013). Personality Disorders. American Psychological Association. Mangal, S. (2008). Abnormal Psychology. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Ltd. Read More