Knowing the types of personality disoders and your personality traits can help you improve your relationships or pass that psychology test! Here's a brief summary of personality characteristics, personality disorders, and the Big Five Personality Traits.
Personal Traits and Personality Characteristics
How you perceive the world and other people is part of your personality. Your personality affects your thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, relationships and even your achievements -- it affects everything in your life.
Psychologists once believed that your personality was set in stone as a child. They thought that by adulthood, your personality traits are established and there's no changing them. However, recent research has revealed that personality traits do change over time - even without your help. Anxiety in particular decreases as age 40 approaches, and so does extroversion (read Big Five Personality Traits for more information).
Types of Personality Disorders
If your personality persistently causes problems in your life and relationships, you may struggle with a personality disorder. People with personality disorders don't usually relate well to other people. Rigidity, inflexibility, and unresponsiveness are the earmarks of personality disorders. People who struggle with these personality disorders don't enjoy social interactions and tend to have a narrow view of the world.
Personality disorders are a good example of change that occurs naturally as you age. Personality disorders tend to become less obvious as you age (personality disorders are most noticeable in adolescence and young adulthood).
Categories or Clusters of Personality Disorders
There are three categories of personality disorders:
- Cluster A: This type of personality disorder consists of eccentric, odd, and perhaps psychotic behaviors. For example, schizoid personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder are Cluster A Personality Disorders.
- Cluster B: Erratic, emotional, and extraverted behaviors are in Cluster B Personality Disorders. Borderline personality disorder, narcissitic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and antisocial personaltiy disorder are included here.
- Cluster C: Fearful, anxious behaviors are the core of this subset - which is often labeled neurotic. For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dependent personality disorder, social phobia, and avoidant personailty disorder can be found in Cluster C Personality Disorders.
The three types of personality disorders can be found on Axis II on the DSM-IV.
If you're interested in knowing your personality traits, read:
- Big Five Personality Traits
- A Test For Introverted Personality Traits
- What Your Favorite Dog Breed Reveals About Your Personality
Theories of Personality
Sigmund Freud, Erikson, and Horney specialized in psychoanalytic theories of personality. Freud specialized in psychosexual development, while Erikson majored in psychosocial stages. Pavlov was a major force in behavioral psychology, which Maslow was a huge humanist.
Adler, Jung, Rogers, and Kohler also developed theories of personality and various psychological disorders - or they added to existing theories. There isn't one universally accepted theory of personality, though most psychologists subscribe to one or another. They usually base their research, teaching, and practice in one area - with influences from others.
If you're interested in a job in psychology, read Careers in Clinical Psychology.
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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