What is a personality disorder?

Question

If everyone has a unique personality then in what sense can there be a personality disorder?

Answer 1

Personality disorders are defined by the American Psychiatric Association as "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it". These patterns, as noted, are inflexible and pervasive across many situations, due in large part to the fact that such behavior is ego-syntonic (i.e., the patterns are consistent with the ego integrity of the individual), and therefore, perceived to be appropriate by that individual. The onset of these patterns of behavior can typically be traced back to the beginning of adulthood, and, in rare instances, early adolescence.

Answer 2

According to psychological theory, a personality disorder exists when the personality has been altered so that it affects the way they view and interact with the world.

Usually these disorders begin in early childhood and have a negative impact on the person's lives and the live's of others.

They are defined by a set of traits that a unique to each disorder but affect the person's life (or others).

Answer 3

The word "disorder" is the key here. If you look up personality disorder in the DSM-IV, which is basically the bible of mental health and illness, the personality part means that a person's patterns of relationships, behaviors, emotional experience, etc., are ingrained in their personality; it's just the way they are. But the "disorder" part means that those patterns, behaviors, experiences, etc. lead to dysfunction and interference with normal activities such as work, school, or normative social experiences and opportunities.

Therefore, people with personality disorders often are less likely to be able to recognize or admit that there is a problem. Also, children are not diagnosed with personality disorders, because their personalities are typically still developing. Mental disorders, however, are more acutely bothersome to people, and are also more expected to change.