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This article throws light upon the four main forms of personality disorders. The forms are: 1. Inadequate Personality 2. Multiple and Alternate Personalities 3. Schizophrenia 4. Sociopathic Personality.
Form # 1. Inadequate Personality:
The inadequate personality is one where the person functions in an inefficient and inadequate manner. The person becomes very dependent, is afraid of taking any initiative and avoids taking responsibilities. In fact, his personality has not developed fully or its development may said to have been arrested. His behaviour appears routine and stereo typed and any unusual situation renders him ineffective.
Form # 2. Multiple and Alternate Personalities:
All of us must have met people who appear to behave differently at different times. A person is very happy, poised on one occasion and on another occasion, under similar conditions, appears very moody, non-communicative and withdrawn.
Of course, if the change in behaviour is related to certain events or experiences, this is normal. But even then, a normal person returns to his original ‘personality’ sooner or later. But in some cases, such a condition becomes a regular and constant feature of one’s personality.
On some occasions a person appears to be noble, pleasant, generous and then suddenly he becomes mean, selfish and unpleasant, behaving like two different personalities. An outstanding description of such a situation is found in the novel, “Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde”, where the same character appears as a noble doctor and also turns out to be an evil character.
Such instances have been found in actual life also and their case histories are available in the records of famous doctors like Morton Prince. Such records clearly show that the personality of a person can split almost vertically into two and each can function independent of the other part.
When the personality splits into two independent functioning parts, this is called a double personality. Clinical experience has shown that a personality can split into any number of parts, each functioning independently. One of the most famous cases recorded in medical history is the Sally Beauchamp case, where five to six different personalities were seen in Sally, sometimes occurring in a regular alternating manner.
A more recent case is that of Sybil where sixteen such divisions have been identified. Such instances are called multiple personalities; if they occur in a regular alternating manner they are called alternating personalities.
Divisions in personality arise out of many causes, such as traumatic experiences, stress, conflicts, multiple identification, etc. affecting the integration of the main personality. Another factor is the opposing influences of contradictory parental styles.
Form # 3. Schizophrenia:
In the above paragraphs we made a reference to the division of personalities. In these cases the total personality divides into a few parts, each functioning independently. Each of these parts is, however, organised, logical and consistent within itself.
There is no disorganization within each part. For example, Mr. Hyde operated in a consistent and organised manner and so did Dr. Jekyl. If these two were separate and totally different individuals, probably we would not have been surprised at all.
But on the other hand, in the schizophrenics, personality is shattered to pieces. What results is not a few organised, alternating parts but utter incoherence and chaos. The individual’s behaviour becomes incoherent, disorganized and bizarre, with no link between the situation and the behaviour.
It is as if the personality breaks down completely. The schizophrenic becomes maladjusted and is unable to lead a normal life. Such instances represent extreme forms of personality disorder. Schizophrenia has been attributed to many factors such as heredity, defective constitution, parental rejection or over-protection, faulty learning, etc.
Form # 4. Sociopathic Personality:
Yet another type of deviant personality is known as the sociopathic or antisocial personality. Sociopathic or as they are also called psychopathic personalities do not show any split or disorganization. The personality shows a stable structure, consistency and organisation. The problem with the sociopaths is that they invariably indulge in behaviour which is socially disapproved.
Chronic criminals and delinquents belong to this category. Primarily, the sociopathic personality is the result of defective and inadequate socialisation. One often finds that a deviant model, actual or imaginary, has influenced the person. Very often, one can see a history of anti-social behaviour being repeated in the same family.
Homes which do not provide clear-cut guidelines to growing children and which are broken and unstable, play a vital role in the development of sociopathic tendencies. Sociopathic tendencies may arise out of reaction formation against unhappy and frustrating experiences.
The mechanisms of projection, reaction formation and displacement play a very important role in producing sociopathic personalities. In many cases the development of sociopathic tendencies can be compared to a twig being bent in the wrong direction.
We have, in the above paragraphs, examined different types of personality disorders. We have included only those types of disorders where the total personality is involved in some type of split or dissociation or disorganization. It should also be pointed out that, to some degree, personality deviation is involved in all forms of psychological disorders.
Thus, in psychological disorders like hysteria, compulsive neurosis, phobias, etc. one finds basic personality factors being associated with the pathological conditions. Similarly, in psychotic disorders like paranoia and manic depression, one finds an association between certain types of personality and the incidence of such disorders.
Psychologists dealing with personality disorders, have over the years, developed a number of professional techniques which help in restoring deviant personalities to normalcy. These techniques are based on different psychological theories of learning, personality, motivation, perception, etc.
Very frequently, a number of these techniques are used in combination. Some of the techniques used are operant conditioning and behaviour modification based on Skinner’s theory, psychoanalysis based on Freud’s theories and transactional analysis based on the views of Eric Berne. In some instances, certain drugs are also used to help in the process.