Personality Disorders (Psychology 2e | OpenStax)

Learning Objectives

• Describe the nature of personality disorders and their differences from other disorders.
• Distinguish between the three clusters of personality disorders.
• Identify features and etiological factors of borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

Overview of Personality Disorders

• Personality: Stable, consistent, distinctive ways of thinking, feeling, acting, relating.
• Personality Disorders Characteristics:
  • Differ markedly from cultural expectations.
  • Pervasive, inflexible, starting in adolescence/early adulthood.
  • Cause distress or impairment.

DSM-5 Personality Disorders Clusters

• Cluster A: Odd or eccentric behavior
  • Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal
• Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, erratic behavior
  • Antisocial, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Borderline
• Cluster C: Anxious, fearful behavior
  • Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive

Notable Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Characteristics:
  • Instability in relationships, self-image, mood.
  • Impulsivity, fear of abandonment.
  • Intense, unstable relationships.
  • Impulsive, self-destructive behaviors.
  • Comorbid with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders.
• Prevalence:
  • ~1.4% of US population, higher in mental health services (~10% outpatients, 20% inpatients).
• Biological Basis:
  • High heritability of impulsivity, emotional instability.
  • Environmental factors: childhood abuse.
  • Interaction between genetics and adverse experiences.

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)

• Characteristics:
  • Lack of regard for others' rights/feelings.
  • Illegal acts, deceit, impulsivity, lack of remorse.
  • Superficial charm, lack of empathy.
• Prevalence:
  • ~3.6% of the population, more common in men.
  • Associated with lower socioeconomic status, urban areas.
• Risk Factors:
  • Genetic and environmental influences.
  • Lack of fear response, emotional deficits.
  • Impacted by community, family structure, peer influences.

Gender Differences in Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Men:
  • More likely to engage in physically harmful behaviors, illegal activities.
• Women:
  • More likely to engage in deceit, avoidant behaviors.

Environmental and Biological Influences

• Environmental Factors:
  • Influence from family, peers, community structure.
• Biological Factors:
  • Genetic predisposition to traits like impulsivity and callousness.
  • Studies show interaction between genetic factors and adverse environments.