Behavioral psychology is a large field, as seen by the extensive amount of study required to become a qualified psychologist.

I’ve encountered a wide variety of people with various personalities and behaviors. The fact that the same anatomical brain can react in so many different ways is rather fascinating, isn’t it?

We also explore several attitudes as we progress through the course.

What things a person might get attracted to?

Actions one takes?

Why do criminals commit crimes?

Why do abusers seem to be so vicious?

Why does a domineering attitude encourage narcissism? 

PERSONALITY DISORDERS:

A personality disorder is a sort of mental illness in which you have an unnaturally inflexible way of thinking, acting, and behaving. A personality disorder makes it difficult for the sufferer to understand and relate to others. Significant issues and restrictions in relationships, social interactions, employment opportunities, and academic pursuits result from this.

Cluster A personality disorder: People with personality disorders tend to think or act in peculiar or unusual ways. There are three of them: schizotypal personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder.

Dramatic, excessively emotional, or unpredictable thought or behavior are characteristics of cluster B personality disorders. There are several of them, such as narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.

As a result, there are similarities among the cluster B personality disorders in several respects.

The other diseases will undoubtedly resemble narcissistic personality disorder if we focus on it specifically.

1. DOUBTING NARCISSISM 

Selfies on Instagram are not necessarily a sign of a personality problem, even if someone enjoys posting them. “The people who are diagnosed with this disorder have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, may be preoccupied with fantasies of limitless success, power, brilliance or beauty, and require excessive admiration. “They are unwilling to recognize the needs or feelings of others, are envious and feel envied, and are arrogant and haughty. “Though we sometimes use the word “narcissist” lightly, someone with a slight ego doesn’t necessarily have a mental disorder.

However, if you come across someone who has an overly inflated feeling of entitlement and haughtiness, you are free to suspect him of being a narcissist.

Always remember that not everyone who has a dominating appearance is a narcissist; as the saying goes, “Never judge a book by its cover.”

Because the word “narcissism” is so extreme, use caution while using it.

IF IT’S NOT NARCISSISM, SHOULD I STILL PUT UP WITH THE POISONOUS BEHAVIOR?

The difference between a narcissist and someone who is normal but has been acting in this manner for a while or someone who has a personality disorder comparable to narcissism can be quite difficult for someone to make out.

When talking about such a sensitive subject, it is especially important to distinguish between things that are persistent and things that are observed from time to time. Something that is persistent should be considered to be permanent or something that was established from the beginning.

It may be quite difficult, but you must first rule out personality disorders and then distinguish between narcissism and related disorders because there is a thin line between the two.

After carefully assessing, take suitable measures to counter the other’s wrong behavior.

2. ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER

A more difficult form of personality illness is antisocial personality disorder, which is characterized by irrational, impulsive, and frequently criminal behavior.

A person with antisocial personality disorder is usually manipulative, dishonest, and careless, and they have little regard for other people’s feelings. As well as being clever, engaging, and entertaining to be around, people with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) can also lie to and take advantage of others. People with ASPD appear heartless and lack remorse for their deeds. An individual with the disease may behave rashly, destructively, and unsafely without feeling bad about their conduct when they cause harm to others.

A severe type of antisocial personality disorder is thought to exist in psychopaths.

Antisocial personality disorder patients frequently break the law and turn to crime. In addition to using drugs and alcohol improperly, they might also lie or act violently or impulsively. People with this illness generally are unable to fulfill obligations to their families, their jobs, or their education because of these traits.

Among the warning signs and symptoms of antisocial personality disorder is:

• Neglect morality and ethics
• dishonesty or deception to exploit others repeatedly
• exhibiting callousness, cynicism, and disdain for others
• manipulating others with wit or charm for one’s own advantage or enjoyment
• Being excessively opinionated, arrogant, and having a superiority complex
• Law enforcement issues that keep coming up, including criminal activity
• repeatedly infringing on another person’s rights via coercion and dishonesty
• Lack of planning or being impulsive
• aggressiveness, a great deal of irritation, agitation, hostility, or violence
• Lack of concern for others’ feelings and regret for wronging them
• taking unnecessary risks or engaging in harmful activities without regard for one’s own or others’ safety
• relationship problems or abuse

Considering this, where do narcissism and antisocial personality disorder intersect?

Antisocial personality disorder sufferers disregard right and wrong and disregard other people’s rights and feelings, just as those with NPD. Additionally, they have a propensity for offending, controlling, or treating people brutally or with callous disregard. Contrary to narcissists, however, those who have antisocial personality disorder frequently commit crimes and fight with other people physically. This disorder has been identified in many people who have been found guilty of violent crimes, such as serial killers. 

Three of the most brutal American serial killers have been identified as having it: In the 1970s, notorious serial killer and necrophile Ted Bundy admitted to 30 killings. 33 boys and young men were raped and murdered in the 1970s by John Wayne Gacy, often known as the “Killer Clown.”

3. BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

A mental health illness known as borderline personality disorder (BPD) exists. Extreme mood swings, shaky relationships, and emotional instability are all characteristics of BPD patients. Suicide and destructive conduct are more likely to occur in them.

If you have borderline personality disorder (BPD), you probably feel as like you’re on a roller coaster. This may be due to your erratic emotions and unstable relationships, but it may also be due to your shaky sense of self. It’s possible for your self-perception, objectives, and even your likes and dislikes to alter regularly in ways that feel hazy and confused.

Impulsivity, a negative self-view, tumultuous relationships, and strong emotional reactions to stimuli are all possible consequences of this issue. Additionally, risky behaviors like self-harm might stem from difficulties with self-control (e.g. cutting).

According to estimates, BPD affects 1.4% of American adults. Women make up around 75% of those who have BPD diagnosis. Recent studies indicate that although men are frequently given the wrong diagnosis for PTSD or depression, they may experience BPD symptoms just as severely.

Symptoms of BPD are as follows:

• Attempts made in a panic to prevent real or imagined abandonment by friends and relatives.
• Personal relationships that are unstable and oscillate between idealization (“I’m so in love!” and “I loathe her”). This is also referred to as “splitting” at times.
• Unstable and distorted self-image that has an impact on relationships, ambitions, values, and moods.
• Impulsive actions that can lead to danger include excessive spending, irresponsible driving, and the abuse or overuse of drugs.
• Conduct that involves self-harm, including attempts or threats of suicide.
• Very low moods, anger, or anxiety spells can last a few hours to a few days.
• Feelings of emptiness or dullness that persist.
• Fury that is inappropriate, excessive, or uncontrollable—often followed by guilt and shame.
• Paranoid thoughts brought on by stress and dissociative experiences, such as feeling “out of body” or disconnected from your thoughts or sense of identity. Additionally, transient psychotic episodes may result from extremely stressful situations.

There are certain factors associated with BPD.

• Genetics. Despite the fact that BPD has not been directly linked to any one gene or gene profile, research indicates that those who have a close relative with the condition may be more susceptible to having it themselves.
• Environmental elements People are more likely to acquire BPD if they go through traumatic life experiences like neglect or being separated from their parents or being physically or sexually abused as children.
• Brain activity. The emotional control system may be altered in those who have BPD, indicating that some of the symptoms may have a neurological foundation. Particularly, there may be poor communication between the brain regions in charge of emotion and judgment and decision-making.

However, have you read the text carefully? Borderline personality disorder appears to be a totally separate disorder.

A few similarities exist between BPD and narcissism.

Unpredictable, dramatic, and emotional behaviors can both be seen in people with BPD and NPD. They have a propensity to think they are the center of the universe; they are both afraid of being abandoned; and they constantly crave attention. An individual with BPD, however, exhibits greater self-harming behaviors and has a far more erratic sense of self. They often struggle to manage their emotions, making them quickly agitated and angry, and they are quite impulsive. They also frequently have a persistent sense of emptiness. Furthermore, they could become irrational and possibly lose their sense of reality.

4. HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER

One of the “Cluster B” or “dramatic” personality disorders, which include the histrionic personality disorder, is this category of disorders. Extremely volatile emotions and skewed self-images are common among those who suffer from these diseases. A true sense of self-worth does not exist for those with histrionic personality disorder since their self-esteem is dependent on other people’s acceptance. They have an intense need to stand out, and they frequently act out or do things wrong to do so. 

Histrionic, which means “dramatic or theatrical,” is the origin of its name.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is a reference book used by mental health professionals to make diagnoses of mental illnesses. It lists 10 personality disorders, including histrionic personality, among its 10 recognized categories. A personality disorder affects roughly 9% of Americans, with histrionic personality disorder affecting between 1% and 3% of people in the country.

Unknown factors may contribute to histrionic personality disorder. Possible causes include genes and experiences in the womb. As opposed to men, women are diagnosed with it more frequently. The illness may be more prevalent in men than is currently recognized by doctors. In late adolescence or the early twenties, the histrionic personality disorder commonly manifests.

How to identify a person with this personality disorder?

Here are so symptoms appropriate to the histrionic personality disorder:

• Highly seductive behavior or appearance
• the propensity to be easily swayed by others
• putting too much stock in their appearance
• displaying excessive emotion and drama
• an excessive sensitivity to criticism or disapproval
• supposing that a relationship is more intimate than it truly is
• laying blame for one’s own shortcomings or disappointments
• looking for confirmation or approval all the time
• having little patience for suffering or waiting for rewards
• Always wanting to be the center of attention (self-centeredness)
• erratic emotional states that others may find superficial

Even while someone who demands to be the center of attention all the time may look narcissistic, they may in fact suffer from Histrionic Personality Disorder. These people lack a genuine sense of self-worth and instead have a false sense of self-worth that is dependent on the acceptance of others. They might dress and behave in a way that draws attention to them and makes them believe that their interactions are more intimate than they actually are. In an effort to attract attention, they frequently dress excessively, behave inappropriately, and occasionally even make deadly threats like suicide.

Both narcissistic and histrionic personality disorders are characterized by a desire to be the center of attention, but the attention they need is different.

The drive to be admired and receive positive attention is consistent with the exaggerated sense of self-worth that people with narcissistic personality disorder experience. Lack of or unfavorable attention is a difficulty for them.

Contrarily, those who suffer from histrionic personality disorder always look for attention of some kind.