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, 2007). Substance abuse is a serious problem and is linked most often to individuals with personality disorders, which are named in the next section.
Personality Disorders. Personality disorders, as defined in Kring et al., are a "heterogeneous group of disorders defined by long-standing, pervasive and inflexible patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from the expectations of a person's culture (Kring et al., 2007, 387). The DSM-IV-TR classifies 10 personality disorders, which it groups into 3 major clusters (Kring et al., 2007, 391). Cluster a is the odd / eccentric cluster; cluster B is the Dramatic / Erratic Cluster; and cluster C is the Anxious / Fearful Cluster (Kring et al., 2007).
Cluster a or the odd / eccentric cluster includes the paranoid personality disorder, the schizoid personality disorder and the schizotypal personality disorder (Kring et al., 2007). Individuals with paranoid personality disorder are highly suspicious of others and expect to be mistreated, tricked or abused by them (Kring et al., 2007). Due to their high level of distrust, they may react with violence to perceived insults (Kring et al., 2007). Cluster B or the dramatic / erratic cluster includes borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder (Kring et al., 2007). Borderline personality disorder is often marked with reactivity in mood (Sass & Junemann, 2003, 38). Cluster C or the anxious / fearful cluster includes avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. These individuals are generally prone to extreme worry and distress (Kring et al., 2007,...
People with avoidant personality disorder overly fear criticism, rejection and disappointment and in order to shield themselves from such negativity will avoid jobs and relationships with others (Ibid). Most people with this disorder also suffer from depression, anxiety and low self-esteem (Sass & Junemann, 2003, 38).
Gender Identity Disorder. Gender identity disorder is associated with individuals who deeply believe that they are of the opposite sex (Kring et al., 2007, 428). For example, a man with gender identity disorder may look in the mirror and see a man but experience his body as belonging to a woman (Ibid). Thus, men with this disorder are attracted to the same sex and may go to lengthy means, like surgery to achieve his full transformation into a woman (Ibid).
Conclusion
Taking a look at all of these serious disorders of individuals with abnormal behavior may hopefully help to understand them better and not be so quick to judge. For in understanding eccentric individuals such as these, others may be surprised to learn that some of them may not be as bad as they are put out to be. Furthermore, others may even gain a better insight not only into the behavior of 'normal people' but gain a better understanding of themselves.
References
Courbasson, C., Rizea, C. & Weiskopf, N. (2008, July). Emotional Eating among Individuals with Concurrent Eating and Substance Use Disorders. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 6(3), 378- 388. Retrieved September 3, 3009, doi:10.1007/s11469-007-9135-z
Kring, a., Davison, G., Neale, J., Johnson, S. (2007). Abnormal Psychology (10th Edition). Chapters 9-10 (pp. 270- 348) & 12-13 (pp. 386-448). USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sass, H. & Junemann K. (2003, October 2). Affective disorders, personality and personality disorders. Acta Psychiatica Scandinavica, 108, 34. Retrieved September 3, 2009, doi:10.1034/j1600-0447.108.s418.8.x
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