Unpacking Personality Disorders: The Mad, the Bad, and the Sad

A Look at the Three Clusters and a Deep Dive into the Infamous Cluster B

Kat J @Unsplash

A personality disorder and a personality trait are not the same things. A trait is simply a personality characteristic like generosity or greed. Personality disorders are grouped by the DSM chart into three groups (A, B, C) based on their manifestations. Often internally chaotic disorders that cannot be regulated easily, they are maladaptive patterns of behavior that affect every part of a person’s life. It causes them problems in all areas of their existence and can wreak havoc in the lives of all those around them. When their life is negatively impacted significantly in all aspects and cannot be easily regulated or managed, it can be defined as a personality disorder.

“The Mad” Cluster A

Cluster A disorders include

• schizoid- characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, a tendency toward a solitary lifestyle, emotional detachment, and apathy.
• paranoid- marked by behavior that may seem strange or unusual to others and demonstrates suspicion of other people.
• schizotypal personalities- are loners who prefer to keep their distance from others and often exhibit odd…