Paper Summary:

This paper explains that a personality disorder is a non-psychotic mental illness characterized by enduring patterns of perceiving oneself and the environment in ways that are maladaptive. The paper then discusses various personality disorders include paranoid, antisocial, obsessive-compulsive, histrionic, avoidant and dependent personality disorders and explains that all six of these personality disorders should be viewed as only representing a small minority of the general population; however, everyone carries some of these traits which normally do not interfere with their everyday lives..

Table of Contents:
General Definitions
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder

From the Paper:

"The traits associated with HPD include a pattern of seeking attention and displaying one's emotions excessively. This pattern is expressed by feeling uncomfortable in situations where one is not the center of attention; acting in a sexually seductive or provocative manner that it inappropriate to the situation; one's emotions rapidly shift, are shallow and superficial; consistently uses one's physical appearance to draw attention; talks in an excessively impressionistic manner that lacks specific details, and finally, one views relationships to be more intimate that they really are."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Diagnostic Criteria & Antisocial Personality Disorder. http://asperdis.org/DIAGNOSTIC%20CRITERIA. Accessed November 6, 2003.
• Friedland, Bruce. (1991). Personality Disorders. New York: Chelsea House.
• Grohol, J.M. (2003). Dependent Personality Disorder. PsychCentral. http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx13. Accessed November 6, 2003.
• Kantor, Martin. (1992). Diagnosis and Treatment of the Personality Disorders. St. Louis: Ishiyaku EuroAmerica.
• Paranoid Personality Disorder. Internet Mental Health. www.mentalhealth.com.Accessed November 6, 2003.

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