Each of us has a personal way of being in contact with the world, a way of living, behaving, thinking, being with others and facing life’s experiences. For example, there are people who appreciate solitude and isolation, while others prefer to socialize and seek company, just as there are distrustful people and others who blindly trust others. However, when these characteristics become so rigid and penetrating that they condition the ability to adapt to life and have satisfactory emotional, social and work relationships, we could begin to talk about personality disorders.
In this Psychology-Online article we explain What is a personality cluster, types and examples.
What is personality
The term personality refers to the set of psychic characteristics and behavioral modalities, such as inclinations, interests or passions that define the core of individual differences in the multiple contexts in which human behavior develops, both social and personal. In other words, it is the set of attributes and characteristics that distinguish one person from another.
Around the 1930s, the term gained prominence in the field of scientific psychology, partly replacing that of character, since it sought to underline the uniqueness of the individual. Each theoretical core in psychology, however, conceptualizes personality in different models, using very different methods, objectives and modalities of analysis.
Normally, these traits allow the individual to adapt in different situations and contexts. However, when these characteristics are inflexible and impair social and work functioning, we can begin to consider them disorders. Personality disorders are egosymptoms, that is, the subject does not experience any subjective suffering, since they seem to belong to his ego, to his individuality, so the personality itself is not perceived as disturbed.
What is a personality cluster
A cluster is a group of units similar or close to each other from the point of view of its location or composition. The term is mainly used in the scientific field to designate a group or subgroup that contains specific psychiatric categories with the same clinical etiology.
In the DSM-5, Axis II personality disorders are divided into three groups, A, B, or C, as we will see below.
Types of personality clusters
How is personality disorder divided according to the DSM-5 clusters? The DSM-5 groups the 10 into three groups, A, B, and C, based on similar characteristics:
Group A
In this group are disorders characterized by strange or paranoid behaviors who have characteristics in common, such as difficulty expressing emotions or the tendency to isolation, mistrust, coldness and detachment. Cluster A includes the following personality disorders, with their distinctive characteristics:
- Paranoid: continued distrust.
- Schizoid: disinterest in others.
- Schizotypal: eccentric ideas and behaviors.
B Group
It is characterized by dramatic, emotional, or extravagant behaviors, disorders that have in common a very unstable emotionality, in addition to a total lack of empathy and altruism in the affected subjects. This group includes the following personality disorders with their distinctive characteristics:
- Antisocial: social irresponsibility, contempt for others, deception and manipulation of others for personal gain.
- Borderline-limit: inner emptiness, unstable relationships and emotional dysregulation.
- Histrionic: attention seeking and excessive emotionality.
- Narcissistic: Greatness of oneself, need for adulation and lack of empathy.
Group C
Group C is characterized by anxious or fearful behaviors, as well as low self-esteem of the subjects. This group includes the following personality disorders with their distinctive characteristics:
- Evasive: avoidance of interpersonal contact due to rejection of sensitivity.
- Dependente: delivery and need to be attended to.
- Obsessive compulsive:, rigidity and obstinacy.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Del Castello, E., Caviglia, G. (2004). Diagnosis in clinical psychology. Milan: Franco Angeli.
- Petrini, P., Renzi, A., Casadei, A., Mandese, A. (2013). Dictionary of psychoanalysis. With elements of psychodynamic psychiatry and dynamic psychology. Milan: Franco Angeli.
- Istituto di Psicopatologia (2022). Disturbance of Personality. Retrieved from: https://www.istitutodipsicopatologia.it/di-cosa-ci-occupiamo/disturbi-di-personalita/
- Zimmerman, M. (2021). Panoramic view of personal disturbances. Retrieved from: https://www.msdmanuals.com/it-it/professionale/disturbi-psichiatrici/disturbi-della-personalit%C3%A0/panoramica-sui-disturbi-di-personalit%C3%A0