Cluster Of Personality Disorder Research Paper

Clusters of Personality Disorders

Carianne Lewandowski

Empire State College

Introduction

People have a different way of feeling, thinking and behaving that makes them look different from other individuals. This trait is referred to as personality, and is influenced by things such as environment, personal life experiences as well as inherited characteristics. A person is described to have developed a personality disorder if the way of feeling, thinking, and behaving deviates from the cultural expectations and eventually causes distress to the individual. People who have personality disorders experiences problems with how they perceive and relate to situations and other people thereby causing significant limitations and challenges in their

social activities and people relationships (Coid, 2006). This paper will discuss classifications of the personality disorder and the difference between each classification. An explanation of how personality disorder is different from other mental disorders will also be highlighted.
Clusters of personality disorder
Personality disorders are classified into three clusters according to their similarities in symptoms and characteristics. A person who has one of the personality disorders would also experience some symptoms and features of at least one of the other type of personality disorder.
Cluster A type of personality disorder
People in this cluster of personality disorder experience symptoms that are characterized by unusual, eccentric thinking and behavior. The signs and symptoms can further be grouped as paranoid, schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders.

Paranoid personality disorder
Individuals that are experiencing paranoid personality disorder develop a pervasive suspicion and distrust of people accompanied with unfounded beliefs that those people are after harming or deceiving them (Coid et al. 2006). A person experiencing paranoid personality disorder will have an unfounded loyalty and suspicion of others and would perceive innocent remarks and non-threatening situations towards them as insults and attacks. They commonly bear grudges, refuse to forgive perceived insults and slights, and are quick to react with anger and sometimes violent behavior (qtd. Hooley, 2017).
Schizoid personality disorder
Individuals with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone because they have no interest in social and personal relationships. They often have solitary interests and occupations and are seen as introverts or loners. They have a limited range of expressing their emotions and would not take pleasure in most activities. They are often described as cold and distant and generally display an apathetic mood. (Hooley, 2017)
Schizotypal personality disorder
This personality disorder makes people experience social anxiety and discomfort with close relationships. People with schizotypal disorders will have peculiar thinking and beliefs to the extent of developing magical thinking, such as believing they can sway other people and situations with their thoughts.
Cluster B personality disorders
Personality disorders from this cluster results from irregular behavior or thoughts that are too emotional and dramatic (Rossiter et al, 1993).

Cluster B personality disorders can further be grouped into four types’ namely: antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder—all with different features and characteristics.

Antisocial personality disorder

People of this disorder will often disregard other people’s needs and feelings as well as safety for themselves and others. They will often violate other individuals rights with aggressive and violent behaviors that would only make them have recurring problems with the law. Also, they would experience impulsive behavior like persistent lying and stealing by using aliases to con others.

Borderline personality disorder

This type of personality disorder would make a person have an unstable self-image that makes him/her have an intense relationship with others. The person will always experience stress-related paranoia as well as up and down moods, which come as a result of interpersonal stress. The person would have an intense fear of being abandoned making them display suicidal behavior or engage in threats of

self-injury.
Histrionic personality disorder
People with a histrionic personality disorder would continuously aim to attract attention from others. They would have extreme dramatic emotions with strong opinions, although vague, to seek care. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder are describes as vain, self-centered and are in constant need of approval from others. Their behavior and appearance tend to be theatrical and emotional as well as sexually provocative (qtd. Hooley, 2017).
Narcissistic personality disorders
This type of personality disorder makes people fantasize about things such as success, power and attractiveness without recognizing other people’s needs and feelings. They expect constant praise and admiration of their exaggerated talents or achievements. These people can be described as arrogant and believe that they are more unique and are superior to others.
Cluster C personality disorders
Personality disorders from this cluster are characterized by fearful thoughts or behavior and a high-level anxiousness (Rossiter et al, 1993). They are grouped into the following types;
Avoidant personality disorder
Individuals with this disorder show extreme social inhibition and introversion. They are too sensitive to criticism and experience fear of disapproval or embarrassment. Because of this, they do not engage themselves in social interactions or look to be around others. They often feel lonely or bored and want contact with others but their shyness in social situations and personal relationships makes them feel uncomfortable (Hooley, 2017).
Dependent personality disorder
This disorder will make people have an excessive dependence on others due to fear of providing self-care when left alone. A person will lack self-confidence in starting and doing activities on their own, and they would have a submissive behavior towards others.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder feel the need to be in control. They want everything to be perfect and exactly how they want them with no space for others errors or even their own errors. They play close attention to details, schedules, organization, rules, and order to the point the main object behind their actions is lost. They are seen by others as being stubborn, rigid and cold. Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder find it difficult to enjoy leisurely activities due to their excessive devotion to their career. (Hooley, 2017)
Key difference between the three clusters of personality disorder
The difference that exists between the three clusters of personality disorder relies on the manner by which their respective features occur (Brent, 1994). Cluster A personality disorder results from unusual and abnormal thinking or behavior that a person has towards other people or events. Unpredictable behavior or emotions that are dramatic are associated with Cluster B personality disorder. Cluster C is different from each of the two clusters because they result from fear and anxiousness of other people or situations.
Difference between personality disorder and mental disorder
One of the main differences is that people who have personality disorders usually experiences extremely strained relationships with other people. In other words, they find difficulties to interact with other people and develop those interactions to mutually-beneficial relationships (Brent, 1994). On the other hand, mental disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia are characterized by the extremity of traits that are associated with mental and physical illness. Also, personality disorders are characterized by lifelong patterns, unlike mental disorders that can develop in a relatively short time.
Conclusion
Personality disorder is generally a pervasive pattern of inner experience and behavior of a person that makes him/her appear different from cultural expectations.

The disorders are based on individual’s personality characteristics that make the individual less likely to appear or behave like others. Personality disorders are classified into three different clusters according to the manner by which features and traits of the disorder occur. Unlike in mental disorder, a personality disorder is a collection of personal characteristics, thinking errors and symptoms that make a person find it difficult to relate with other people.

References

Brent, D. A., Johnson, B. A., Perper, J., Connolly, J., Bridge, J., Bartle, S., & Rather, C. (1994). Personality disorder, personality traits, impulsive violence, and completed suicide in adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(8), 1080-1086.

Coid, J., Yang, M., Tyrer, P., Roberts, A., & Ullrich, S. (2006). Prevalence and correlates of personality disorder in Great Britain. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(5), 423-431.

Rossiter, E. M., Agras, W. S., Telch, C. F., & Schneider, J. A. (1993). Cluster B personality disorder characteristics predict outcome in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(4),

349-357.