Personality Disorders
The Personality Disorder
Section titled “The Personality Disorder”Normally, a personality is something whole and consistent. According to Sigmund Freud, personality is defined in the “EGO” (according to him, the human psyche consists of 3 agencies):
- The “ID” - the unconscious drives and desires
- The “EGO” - the conscious personality and mediator
- The “SUPEREGO” - the conscience and internalized norms
One can therefore simply say that a personality disorder represents a dysfunction of the “EGO.” Viewed as something whole and consistent, a person without a personality disorder can adapt to changing situations and act sensibly.
In people with disturbances in their personality, this is not the case. They display rigid, inflexible behavioral patterns that deviate notably from “norms,” are persistent, and can be very complex.
Effects of a Personality Disorder
Section titled “Effects of a Personality Disorder”A personality disorder restricts the affected person in their social and/or professional life, but does not always cause them emotional distress. In contrast to psychotic disorders, contact with reality usually remains intact (in borderline disorder, psychotic experiences occur very frequently). People with a personality disorder often lack insight into their problems - they consider themselves “normal,” which in turn often leads or can lead to serious problems.
Classification of Personality Disorders
Section titled “Classification of Personality Disorders”Personality disorders can be subdivided into:
Cluster A: Odd, Eccentric Behavior
Section titled “Cluster A: Odd, Eccentric Behavior”- Paranoid personality disorder
- Schizoid personality disorder
- Schizotypal personality disorder
Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional or Erratic Behavior
Section titled “Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional or Erratic Behavior”- Antisocial personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Histrionic personality disorder
- Narcissistic personality disorder
Cluster C: Anxiety or Fear
Section titled “Cluster C: Anxiety or Fear”- Avoidant personality disorder
- Dependent personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Prevalence in the Population
Section titled “Prevalence in the Population”It is now generally assumed that approximately 9-10% of the population suffers from personality disorders. The range of results from various studies is relatively broad at 2-18%.
| Disorder | Prevalence |
|---|---|
| Schizotypal disorders (women) | approx. 3% |
| Antisocial disorders (men) | approx. 3% |
| Histrionic personality disorder | 2-3% |
| Borderline disorder | approx. 2% |
| Paranoid personalities | 0.5-2% |
| Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder | 1-1.7% |
| Narcissistic personality disorder | less than 1% |
| Avoidant personality disorder | 0.5-1% |
Development and Causes
Section titled “Development and Causes”Personality disorders are clinically significant, usually longer-lasting conditions and behavioral patterns. They are expressions of the characteristic, individual lifestyle, of the relationship to one’s own person and to other people.
Some of these conditions and behavioral patterns arise as a consequence of constitutional factors and social experiences early in the course of individual development, while others are acquired later in life.
Biological Factors
Section titled “Biological Factors”Genetic factors can at least partially explain the gender difference in certain personality disorders:
- X-chromosome-linked monoamine oxidase activity
- Significance of testosterone for dominance behavior and aggressiveness
Upbringing and Environment
Section titled “Upbringing and Environment”The following factors have negative effects:
- Harsh punishments by the mother
- Unpredictable punishment of rule violations
- Little expression of maternal affection
- Few maternal expectations for and promotion of education
- Little time that mothers devote to their children
- Guilt feelings as an essential means of upbringing
- Little supervision by father and mother
- Poor communication with the child
Characteristic Features
Section titled “Characteristic Features”Personality disorders are characterized by one-sided and inflexible interaction patterns that lead to problems in interaction with other people and are generally further reinforced by the negative feedback received.
Accompanying this is an inflexible, unfavorable selection of perceptions and attribution of causes.
Example: The mistrustful, rejecting behavior of a person with paranoid personality disorder produces rejecting behavior in others, which in turn is interpreted as evidence for the already existing fears.