Category: Histrionic Personality

Posted in Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS, Projection

What Is Reverse Projection?

Posted on by Linda Turner

Reverse projection means even if you’re no longer in relationship with your abuser, you may still thing well of her rather than face the truth- she abused you.  Being realistic will help you to accept that yes, you were abused, yes, things were bad & yes, you have been adversely affected by it all.  Once you admit these things, & only then, can you begin to heal.

 

And if reverse projection helped you to accept responsibility for being abused, that will create plenty of problems in itself.  It’s unhealthy to accept responsibility for being abused because you did nothing wrong!  Doing so creates a root of toxic shame inside, & toxic shame creates so many problems.  It destroys your self esteem, it sets you up to be abused by others, it makes you unable to accept help when you need it & more.  You also are carrying the abuser’s shame when it’s not yours to carry.  That shame needs to be laid square on the abuser, never on the victim.  Whether or not the abuser carries her own shame is up to her, but it is never your responsibility to carry it! Continue reading “What Is Reverse Projection?” →

Posted in Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, Malignant Narcissism, Narcissism, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Pseudologia Fantastica: A Fascinating Case Report

Posted on by Linda Turner
POSSIBLE UNDERLYING CAUSES AND DYNAMICS
Biological
Using structural magnetic resonance imaging, Yang et al6 found a widespread increase in white matter (23%-36%) in orbitofrontal, middle, and inferior prefrontal subregions, and a 36% to 42% reduction in prefrontal grey/white ratios in liars.
This white matter increase may predispose some individuals to pathological lying.

Lack of attention, negligence,and abuse can contribute to individuals developing a
need to lie.
Narcissistic personality disorder is very similar to pseudologia fantastica in that the former often tells exaggerated stories about the self to obtain constant attention and approval from others and overcome the underlying inadequate sense of self. In pseudologia fantastica, the stories are even more extreme and often not even possible, whereas the narcissist tells stories that are within the bounds of reality.
Borderline personality disorder and pseudologia fantastica can both cause patients to lie and not be able to acknowledge the truth from falsehood. However, in pseudologia fantastica, the other prominent features of borderline personality disorder (eg, impulsivity, self destructive behaviors) are absent.
Histrionic personality disorder shows similar dramatization and the extreme need for attention found in pseudologia fantastica. However, the former also manifests other histrionic features such as inappropriate sexuality, seductiveness, selfdramatization, and suggestibility.
Pervasive developmental disorder, which can be a co-occurring disorder, can be differentiated from pseudologia fantastica in that the former, although it can involve the telling of stories, the stories have a more preservative quality than those stories of
a person with pseudologia fantastica.

Continue reading “Pseudologia Fantastica: A Fascinating Case Report” →

Posted in Alienation, Histrionic Personality, Malignant Narcissism, Narcissism, Narcopath, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder)

HOW DOES HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DIFFER FROM NARCISSISM?

Posted on by Linda Turner

Narcissism, or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), is another cluster B personality disorder. It’s similar to HPD in many ways, but there are a few key differences.

One diagnostic requirement for narcissism is a lack of empathy. People with this condition may ignore how others feel and have little compassion. People with histrionic personality may engage in self-centered behavior, but they don’t necessarily lack empathy.

Another important distinction lies in the reasons for attention-seeking behavior. People with narcissism want to be recognized as special or superior to others. They often lie or exaggerate their own accomplishments in order to receive praise, recognition, or status. People with HPD need the attention of others but may care less about how they get it. They may take on the role of victimhood and allow others to think of them as fragile or helpless. Continue reading “HOW DOES HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DIFFER FROM NARCISSISM?” →

Posted in Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Understanding Histrionic Personality Disorder

Posted on by Linda Turner

HPD is one of 10 personality disorders recognized in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). HPD is one of the Cluster B disorders, which are characterized as dramatic, overly emotional, and/or erratic.

The DSM-5 defines histrionic personality disorder as a pattern of extreme emotionality and attention-seeking behavior that begins by early adulthood and is obvious in different situations. In addition, you must have five or more of the following signs or symptoms to be diagnosed with HPD:2

  • Discomfort in situations in which you’re not the center of attention
  • Interaction with others that’s often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior
  • Rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotion
  • Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self
  • Style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail
  • Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion
  • Is easily influenced by others or by circumstances
  • Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are

People with HPD might be described as being overly dramatic, emotional, or attention-seeking. This pattern of behavior rises to the level of a clinical disorder when it significantly interferes with relationships, work, or other important domains in life. Continue reading “Understanding Histrionic Personality Disorder” →

Posted in Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)

Posted on by Linda Turner

Patients with histrionic personality disorder continually demand to be the center of attention and often become depressed when they are not. They are often lively, dramatic, enthusiastic, and flirtatious and sometimes charm new acquaintances.

These patients often dress and act in inappropriately seductive and provocative ways, not just with potential romantic interests, but in many contexts (eg, work, school). They want to impress others with their appearance and so are often preoccupied with how they look.

Expression of emotion may be shallow (turned off and on too quickly) and exaggerated. They speak dramatically, expressing strong opinions, but with few facts or details to support their opinions.

Patients with histrionic personality disorder are easily influenced by others and by current trends. They tend to be too trusting, especially of authority figures who, they think, may be able to solve all their problems. They often think relationships are closer than they are. They crave novelty and tend to bore easily. Thus, they may change jobs and friends frequently. Delayed gratification is very frustrating to them, so their actions are often motivated by obtaining immediate satisfaction

Achieving emotional or sexual intimacy may be difficult. Patients may, often without being aware of it, play a role (eg, victim). They may try to control their partner using seductiveness or emotional manipulations while becoming very dependent on the partner.

Continue reading “Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)” →

Posted in Alienation, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Psychologists Have Come Up With an Official Test to Measure Your Need For Drama

Posted on by Linda Turner

This new scale is based on three main factors:

  • Interpersonal manipulation: “Characterised by a person’s willingness to influence other people to behave in a manner serving of the manipulator’s goals.”
  • Impulsive outspokenness: “Characterised by a person’s compulsion to speak out and share opinions, even when inappropriate and without regard to social consequences.”
  • Persistent perceived victimhood: “The propensity to constantly perceive oneself as a victim of everyday life circumstances that many people would dismiss as benign.”

After testing a range of potential measures for NFD against various statistical models, the team, led by psychologist Scott Frankowski, came up with this 12-point survey, which tests characteristics such as an individual’s paranoia, outspokenness, and self-absorption: Continue reading “Psychologists Have Come Up With an Official Test to Measure Your Need For Drama” →

Posted in Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Reviewing the Drama Queen

Posted on by Linda Turner

This is the second of seven articles that deal with personalities,
personal style and trouble getting along in the workplace. Click
here for an archive of the entire series. Each of the personality
disorders discussed includes at least three elements. First, the behavior
patterns are both inappropriate and painful to the self or to others.
Second, the maladaptive patterns are substantially unaffected by external
inducements to change. And third, little by little, the patterns create
problems for the organization and for co-workers. The workplace effects
of personality disorders and styles are initially more subtle than the
effects of such more overt problems as depression or alcoholism.

The previous installment dealt with the obsessive compulsive personality.
Subsequent installments will discuss antisocial, paranoid, borderline,
narcissistic and passive-aggressive traits. All are adapted from the newly
published book, “Mental
Health and Productivity in the Workplace: A Handbook for Organizations
and Clinicians,” edited by Jeffrey P. Kahn, MD, and Alan
M. Langlieb, MD, published by Jossey-Bass (a Wiley imprint) and noted
in publications as diverse as HR Magazine, Inc., and the New York Times.

Continue reading “Reviewing the Drama Queen” →

Posted in Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Dangerous Liaisons: How to Deal with a Drama Queen

Posted on by Linda Turner

The damaging theatrics of drama queens may spring from defects etched in the brain. Yet you can limit the havoc they wreak on your life.

Living or working with drama queens can be draining and disturbing. Such a colleague can curtail your own productivity at the office or even shut down teams as everyone tries to contain the chaos. If you live with a drama queen, you may be bombarded daily with accusations and showy attempts to apologize, leaving you feeling angry, guilty and exhausted. Some drama queens are violent toward others, cut themselves or threaten suicide. The extreme behavior can lead to depression or anxiety in family members and colleagues. Continue reading “Dangerous Liaisons: How to Deal with a Drama Queen” →

Posted in Alienation, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dark Triad, Histrionic Personality, Machiavellianism, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Positive and Negative Psychosocial Outcomes of the “Dark” Personality Traits

Posted on by Linda Turner

The term dark personalities refer to a set of socially aversive traits (such as spitefulness, greed, sadism, narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) in the subclinical range. First coined by Paulhus and Williams, it has attracted an exponential increase of empirical attention in recent years. Much of the research in the last decade has linked these dark traits to negative psychosocial outcomes, such as delinquency, unethical work-place behaviors, and mental illness. Nevertheless, the dark personalities vary along a continuum of well-being and adjustment, with some (e.g. narcissism) showing more positive associations with mental health and well-being than others.

The dark personalities have been associated with some of humanity’s greatest vices and also humanity’s key virtues. After a decade of research into the positive and negative outcomes of dark personality traits, there is a need for studies to examine the mediational mechanisms that may explain the relationship between the dark personality traits and those outcomes. Moreover, as people from different cultures live their lives differently, practice different customs, have different child-rearing practices, and so on, it is also important to examine how culture exerts its influence on these traits. Are there any cultural differences that may affect how people see a trait as “dark”? Are there any culture-specific dark personality traits? What are the culturally specific factors related to positive and negative outcomes of dark traits? How do these traits manifest themselves in various cultures and languages?

In this Research Topic, we welcome articles which enhance our understanding of the structure of the dark triad/tetrad of personality, the processes which cause these traits to emerge, their positive and negative outcomes in every aspect of life including, but not limited, to health, education, family, work, economy, politics, morality, and religion. We invite papers that focus on cross-cultural design, interaction effects and mediational mechanisms underlying the links between dark traits and other variables. Continue reading “Positive and Negative Psychosocial Outcomes of the “Dark” Personality Traits” →

Posted in Alienated children, Alienation, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality, NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder), Parental Alienation PA, PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide

Posted on by Linda Turner

Clarification of Terms
“Anger” refers to an emotion caused by the frustrated attempts to attain a goal, or in response to hostile or disturbing actions such as insults, injuries, or threats.

“Apathy” refers to a marked indifference to the environment; lack of a response to a
situation; lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting;
absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.

“Anxiety” refers to the apprehensive anticipation of future danger or misfortune
accompanied by a feeling of distress, sadness, or somatic symptoms of tension. Somatic
symptoms of tension may include, but are not limited to, restlessness, irritability, hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response, increased muscle tone, and teeth grinding. The focus of anticipated danger may be internal or external.

“Dehumanization” refers to the deprivation of human qualities or attributes such as
individuality, compassion, or civility. Dehumanization is the outcome resulting from having been treated as an inanimate object or as having no emotions, feelings, or sensations.

“Depressed mood” (which does not necessarily constitute clinical depression) is indicated by negative statements; self-deprecation; sad facial expressions; crying and tearfulness; withdrawal from activities of interest; and/or reduced social interactions. Some residents such as those with moderate or severe cognitive impairment may be more likely to demonstrate nonverbal symptoms of depression.

“Humiliation” refers to a feeling of shame due to being embarrassed, disgraced, or depreciated. Some individuals lose so much self-esteem through humiliation that they become depressed. Continue reading “Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide” →