Home Blog

Personality Disorders Types

There are 10 basic types of personality disorders that are clinically recognized as such. These are schizoid, paranoid, schizotypal, anti social, histrionic, borderline, narcissistic, dependant, avoidant and obsessive compulsive. These are further grouped into what are medically known as clusters. There are three basic clusters which form the sum total of personality disorders. These cluster formations are based on behavior patterns which tend to fall in a similar category. For instance, the first cluster is usually meant to categorize out of the ordinary or eccentric behaviors. These would include:

• Schizoid: Characterized by people who are detached from society and can broadly be termed as extreme loners, and could manifest in complete indifference to forming any relationships with others.

• Schizotypal: is characterized by a seeming need to be left alone and oddities such as talking to oneself, could also manifest in becoming moody in the presence of others and ignoring social norms.

• Paranoid: Characterized by extreme mistrust of everyone around and resultant anger or withdrawal. Paranoid could be characterized by extreme behavior such as rage and violence.

The second type of cluster comprises people who indulge in outlandish, dramatic or overly emotional behavior. These would include:

• Borderline: Characterized by an extreme fear of being left alone and resultant behaviors such as suicide threats and attempts, and could also include wild mood swings, and the absolute inability to control themselves.

• Narcissistic: The absolute and all encompassing love for oneself and complete and total indifference to anything or anyone apart from oneself. Narcissists could also result in unhealthy apathy to society.

• Histrionic: Is characterized by the need to be the center of attention and the bizarre and overt attempts to accomplish this, could result in outlandish appearance and actions to attract attention.

• Anti social: Is characterized by a complete lack of conscience and indulging in manipulative behavior, it could result in what was earlier known as sociopathic or psychopathic behavior.

This summary alone is barely a scratch on the surface of the problem of personality disorders. Even as these are the medically accepted ones, there are several others that are fighting for space on the medical platform. Personality disorders can be as vast and myriad as people and personalities. Since psychology and psychotherapy is a relatively new science, this classification and all these definitions are still a work in progress. Moreover, these are extremely basic classifications. There could be further and more detailed classifications that would be a part of these broad umbrellas of definition.