Author: Glossary
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Schizotypal personality disorder
Characterized by a combination of discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships and cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior. Possible manifestations include odd beliefs or magical thinking inconsistent with cultural norms; unusual perceptual experiences including bodily illusions; odd thinking and speech; no (or only one) close friends because of lack of desire,…
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Schizoid personality disorder
Characterized by detachment from social relationships and restricted emotional range in interpersonal settings. The individual tends not to desire or enjoy close relationships, prefers solitary activities, appears indifferent to praise or criticism, has no (or only one) close friends or confidants, and is emotionally cold or detached. A personality disorder characterized by shyness, oversensitivity, seclusiveness,…
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Paranoid personality disorder
Characterized by a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent. This distrust is shown in many ways, including unreasonable expectation of exploitation or harm by others; questioning without justification the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates; reading demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events; having…
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Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Also known as compulsive personality; characterized by preoccupation with perfectionism, mental and interpersonal control, and orderliness, all at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. Some of the manifestations are preoccupation with rules, lists, or similar items; excessive devotion to work, with little attention paid to recreation and friendships; limited expression of warm emotions; reluctance…
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Narcissistic personality disorder
Characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behavior and an excessive need for admiration. Manifestations may include having an exaggerated sense of self-importance, having a feeling of being so special that one should associate only with other special people, exploiting others to advance one’s own ends, lacking empathy, and believing that others…
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Histrionic personality disorder
Characterized by excessive emotional instability and attention seeking. Behavior includes discomfort if not the center of attention; excessive attention to physical attractiveness; rapidly shifting and shallow emotions; speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail; viewing relationships as being more intimate than they actually are; and seeking immediate gratification. A disorder marked by attention-seeking…
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Dependent personality disorder
Characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of, resulting in submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. Manifestations may include excessive need for advice and reassurance about everyday decisions, encouragement of others to assume responsibility for major areas of his or her life, inability to express disagreement because of possible anger or…
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Borderline personality disorder
Characterized by instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects, and control over impulses. Manifestations may include frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment; unstable, intense relationships that alternate between extremes of idealization and devaluation; repetitive self-mutilation or suicide threats; and inappropriate, intense, or uncontrolled anger. Behavior that is closely related to psychosis but that is…
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Avoidant personality disorder
Characterized by social discomfort and reticence, low self-esteem, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. Manifestations may include avoiding activities that involve contact with others because of fears of criticism or disapproval; experiencing inhibited development of relationships with others because of fears of being foolish or being shamed; having few friends despite the desire to relate to…
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Antisocial personality disorder
Characterized by a pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Manifestations may include superficiality; lack of empathy or remorse, with callous unconcern for the feelings of others; disregard for social norms; poor behavioral control, with irritability, impulsivity, and low frustration tolerance; and inability to feel guilt or to learn from experience…