What are Cluster B Personality Disorders?
In our last post, we talked about Cluster A Personality Disorders. Today, we’ll be talking about Cluster B Personality Disorders. While Cluster A is characterised by odd and unusual thinking and behaviour, Cluster B is characterised by unpredictable, striking and highly emotional thinking and behaviour (Mayoclinic, n.d.). There are four personality disorders under Cluster B: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic and Narcissistic Personality Disorders.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
As the name suggests, ‘antisocial’ refers to behaviours that are detrimental to society. Some symptoms of antisocial personality disorder include (Mayoclinic, 2016):
Compulsive lying, stealing and using fake identities to cheat others
Dismissing the needs or feelings of others
Continued violation of the rights of others
Impulsive behaviour
Recurring run-ins with the law
Lack of guilt for misbehaviour
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline refers to a ‘poor or unstable sense of self’ that contributes to negative and irresponsible behaviour (Todd, 2018). Some symptoms of borderline personality disorder include (Mayoclinic, 2016):
Engaging in risky and impulsive behaviours like unsafe sex, gambling or binge-eating
Unstable and intense relationships
Bipolar mood swings, often due to interpersonal stress
Consistent feelings of loneliness
Consistent anger issues
Suicidal or self-harming behaviours
Histrionic Personality Disorder
The word histrionic suggests “dramatic or theatrical” (WebMD,n.d.). For people with histrionic personality disorder, their self-esteem is very fragile and highly dependent on the approval of others (WebMD, n.d.). To get people to notice them, they will engage in dramatic and inappropriate behaviour to feel a distorted sense of self-worth. Some symptoms of histrionic personality disorder include (Mayoclinic, 2016):
Consistent, attention-seeking behaviour
Easily swayed by others
Appearing shallow and excessive concern with physical appearance
Extremely emotional, sexually provocative or dramatic to garner attention
Talks dramatically with strong opinions, but unable to support his or his points with concrete evidence
Perceive they are closer to people around them that they really are
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Ever heard about Narcissus? The word ‘Narcissistic’ came from Greek folklore, which tells a story of a handsome young man named Narcissus who fell in love with his reflection after seeing it in a pool of water (WebMD, n.d.). People with narcissistic personality disorders are not just in love with themselves; they are self-absorbed and ignore the feelings or ideas of others. Some symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder include (Mayoclinic, 2016):
Fantasise about attractiveness, power and success
Exaggerating talents and achievements
Belief that you are above others
Consistent anticipation of praise and admiration from others
Extremely high standards towards extending advantages and favours, and frequently take advantage of others
Arrogance
Summary
Hopefully, you have a better idea of what Cluster B Personality Disorders entails! To find out available treatments and how you can help someone with a Cluster B personality disorder, click here.
Here’s a video that summarises Cluster B Personality Disorders perfectly. Check it out! If you have anything to share with us, please do! We would love to hear from you.
For a list of helplines, click here.
In the next post, which comes out this Saturday, Cluster C Personality Disorders will be discussed.
References
Mayoclinic (2016, September 23). Personality disorders [Information on a webpage]. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20354463
Osmosis (2019, February 04). Cluster B personality disorders (antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/n1a7o44WxNo
Todd C.L. (2018, December 05). 13 Facts Everyone Should Know About Borderline Personality Disorder [Information on a webpage]. Retrieved from https://www.self.com/story/borderline-personality-disorder-facts
WebMD (n.d.). Histrionic Personality Disorder [Information on a webpage]. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/histrionic-personality-disorder#1
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