Introduction
Every individual’s personality sets them apart from others in terms of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Experiences, environment, and hereditary tendencies in a person impact personality traits. A personality disorder is a long-lasting thinking, feeling, and behavior pattern that differs from cultural norms and creates distress or functional difficulties. Usually starting in mid-adolescence or early adulthood, the sequence of experiences and behavior leads to unhappiness or operational challenges. Furthermore, a personality disorder may last a lifetime if untreated. The general signs of narcissistic, paranoid, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders are addressed in this essay. Additionally, theories regarding the causes of these personality disorders and how they relate to criminal behavior are examined.
General Symptoms of Personality Disorders
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
An inflated sense of self-importance is a symptom of narcissistic personality disorder, a mental health issue. The severity of narcissistic personality illness symptoms in individuals might vary. People with the illness may have an overwhelming need for frequent praise and an unjustifiably high feeling of self-worth (Schalkwijk et al., 2021). Patients with this condition also believe they should receive special care and privileges and anticipate being regarded as superior even in the absence of accomplishments. Narcissistic people frequently have delusions about having the ideal partner or prosperity, power, intellect, or attractiveness. However, those who have narcissistic personality disorder struggle to deal with what they see as criticism (Schalkwijk et al., 2021). When they do not get preferential treatment or recognition, they could feel irritable and hostile.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
People with paranoid personality disorder (PPD) constantly fear being threatened, denigrated, or harmed by others. This illness typically manifests during early adulthood and affects men more frequently than women. People who suffer from this condition have doubts about the fidelity, loyalty, or reliability of others and think that they are being used or duped (Cheli et al., 2021). Additionally, PPD sufferers are hesitant about confiding in colleagues or divulging personal information out of concern that it may be used against them (Cheli et al., 2021). These people are resentful, retain grudges, are too sensitive, and do not take criticism well. Their tendency to place blame and harbor mistrust and often false beliefs may make it difficult for them to build trusting connections.
Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) tend to be alone in their pursuits and distrust the assistance of others because they need to be in charge. The hallmarks of OCPD are an obsession with uniformity, control, and perfectionism with no space for flexibility, which ultimately slows down or obstructs work completion (Wheaton & Ward, 2020). These patients are rigid and obstinate in their demands that things be performed in a certain manner. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder individuals put excessive effort into their job and productivity (Wheaton & Ward, 2020). Since a need for money does not drive their commitment, they overlook their relationships and hobbies. These patients meticulously prepare their schedules and do not want to consider alterations. Their obstinate conservatism may irritate family, friends, and coworkers.
Theories Behind the Etiology of these Personality Disorders
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Modern psychodynamic theory has improved conceptual understanding of the etiology and manifestation of narcissism in recent decades. Clinical theories of narcissism contend that early childhood experiences are the disorder’s origin. These views include those of the Austrian psychoanalysts’ Otto Kernberg and Heinz Kohut (Schalkwijk et al., 2021). According to Kernberg’s theory, narcissism develops in children as a response to their parents’ lack of affection and empathy. Kernberg claims that the youngster experiences emotional hunger and wrath in response to the parents’ neglect. Kohut’s theory explains that narcissistic personality disorder results when a parent lacks empathy and fails to offer encouragement and appropriate role models (Schalkwijk et al., 2021). Therefore, both approaches define narcissists as people with a history of unsatisfying social relationships in their early years.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Although the exact etiology of PPD is unknown, scientists think several ecological and biological variables may contribute to it. According to Meyer, individuals must have a paranoid predisposition to develop this disorder, which can be brought on by factors such as aging, syphilis, alcohol, and arteriosclerosis (Cheli et al., 2021). Furthermore, Meyer believes the incapacity of the person to link motives or make accommodations for others is the defining characteristic of the emergence of the paranoid condition. All prior researchers had different theories about paranoia, but Sigmund Freud’s was unique since he approached the problem from the perspective of depth psychology. Freud’s theory anticipated that hidden homosexual urges drive paranoid illusions (Cheli et al., 2021). Individuals with eccentric psychological disorders, such as PPD, exhibit habits that may strike others as strange.
Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder
The causes of OCPD can generally be classified into two categories: psychodynamic and biological reasons. According to Sigmund Freud’s view, which is a branch of psychoanalysis, early childhood overprotection and rigid parental discipline lead to OCPD (Wheaton & Ward, 2020). Freud also thought that traumatic experiences throughout childhood, such as emotional trauma, neglect, and physical assault, were risk factors for developing OCPD. Furthermore, Freud’s theory suggests kids go through many developmental phases, and a struggle during the toilet-training period, when kids are meant to learn to regulate their bodily functions, may cause the formation of this disorder (Wheaton & Ward, 2020). Most findings on the biological etiology center on heredity and brain architecture. OCPD is the most prevalent personality disorder that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.
Relationship Between these Personality Disorders and Criminal Behavior
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Personality disorders are among the conditions with a high correlation to criminality. Approximately 1% of people in the United States are thought to have medically diagnosed narcissistic personality disorder (Schalkwijk et al., 2021). However, not having a clinical diagnosis does not prohibit someone from engaging in abusive or unlawful narcissistic conduct. Since narcissistic people cannot take criticism, they frequently reciprocate ten times as much. Given that they cannot control their impulses, people with this illness may swiftly escalate a mistaken insult on the sufferer’s side into actual violence (Schalkwijk et al., 2021). Additionally, this condition makes people disrespect others’ privacy and personal boundaries, which encourages harassment and illegal behavior. In their constant efforts to elevate themselves, persons with this disorder manipulate and take advantage of others, which can lead to damage.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
It would seem evident that individuals with PPD would be more likely to engage in interpersonal violence due to their propensity to interpret other people’s acts as hostile. People with paranoid biases tend to see events as more inflammatory than necessary and perceive the outside globe as aggressive and dangerous. Additionally, because of their frequently low self-esteem and social position awareness, they could be too sensitive to perceived threats to their well-being and status. Therefore, a person with paranoia might be driven to perform retaliatory and prophylactic violent attacks on others (Cheli et al., 2021). Most of those with this disorder do not engage in criminal activity; however, paranoid employees may act violently when they feel threatened or persecuted by coworkers or bosses.
Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder
The primary symptoms of OCPD frequently cause interpersonal issues. Relationships with people who have full-blown OCPD are typically quite difficult. Since many OCPD sufferers are adamant that their approach to life is superior and resistant to change, it can be difficult to repair a marriage with an OCPD spouse (Wheaton & Ward, 2020). Their tendency to be domineering makes them dangerous to anyone who chooses not to abide by their laws. Aggressive behavior is frequently a result of the aggravation and irritation individuals with OCPD feel when they cannot control a situation. When things get really bad, this aggressive behavior might turn into homicide or violent offenses. OCPD causes negative self-talk that sets off a downward thought cycle and more aggressive conduct.
Conclusion
In conclusion, general personality disorder symptoms include unpredictable, upsetting, and perplexing behavior toward close relationships and other people. People with narcissistic tendencies have an excessive feeling of self-importance and believe they deserve benefits and special treatment. Pervasive mistrust and suspicion of others, as well as the erroneous conviction that others are out to get and deceive them, are common signs of PPD. On the other hand, perfectionism to the degree that it interferes with work completion is a general sign of OCPD. Several theories have offered reasons for how personality disorders develop. Criminal acts like murder and harassment may be linked to certain personality features.
References
Cheli, S., Cavalletti, V., Popolo, R., & Dimaggio, G. (2021). A case study on a severe paranoid personality disorder client treated with metacognitive interpersonal therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(8), 1807-1820. Web.
Schalkwijk, F., Luyten, P., Ingenhoven, T., & Dekker, J. (2021). Narcissistic personality disorder: Are psychodynamic theories and the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorders finally going to meet? Psychology for Clinical Settings, 52(3), 152-167. Web.
Wheaton, M. G., & Ward, H. E. (2020). Intolerance of uncertainty and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 11(5), 357–364. Web.