Understanding Personality, Disorders & Mental Health
Personality, Temperament & Character
What is Personality?
Personality is the combination of temperament and character, forming a unique set of psychological characteristics that influence our actions.
Temperament
Temperament is our biological inheritance, representing the influence of our physical nature. It is considered difficult to change or modify.
Character
Character encompasses characteristics acquired during our growth and development. It involves a degree of conformity to social norms.
Structure of Personality (Freud)
According to Freud, personality is structured into three parts: the id, ego, and superego.
Personality Disorders
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder are often pretentious, snobbish, spoiled, and exploitative. They may overstate their importance, direct affection towards themselves, and expect recognition for their perceived uniqueness. They often crave attention, are emotionally fragile, and exhibit exhibitionistic behaviors.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by coldness, callousness, ambition, aggression, and low frustration tolerance. Individuals with this disorder may disregard the rights and well-being of others, exhibit rigid and inflexible cognitive patterns, and avoid expressing emotions perceived as weakness.
Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder
Passive-aggressive personality disorder presents as ambivalence and opposition. Individuals may be oppositional, non-compliant, moody, pessimistic, and prone to complaining. They are often dissatisfied and can demoralize others. They may also exhibit rapid mood swings and appear restless, unstable, and erratic.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often create a world with rigid rules, regulations, schedules, and hierarchies. They may relate to others based on status and appear emotionally repressed, solemn, and serious. They may struggle with expressing uncontrollable emotions.
Mental Health Conditions
Depression
Depression is a profound state of malaise affecting the body, thoughts, and mood. It is not a fleeting feeling of sadness, a personal weakness, or an attitude that can be changed at will.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a general feeling of apprehension and anticipation of risk or pain. It often arises from a perceived inability to understand or cope with the realities of life.
Phobia
A phobia is an irrational, excessive, persistent, and disproportionate fear triggered by specific objects, animals, people, or situations.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by feelings of guilt and compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, laxative use, diuretic use, or excessive exercise. It is often observed in young women.