A personality disorder according to mental health diagnostic literature is defined as an "enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that differs markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time and leads to distress and impairment."
Personality disorders are a long standing and maladaptive pattern of perceiving and responding to other people and to stressful circumstances. What I am attempting to do here is mostly to skim over the concepts of personality disorders in what could be described as pop psychology. These disorders when pathological are very serious and require intense professional consideration. However we all possess certain personality characteristics, which you might recognise, and find both interesting and informative.
People with personality disorders have wide ranging problems in social relationships and mood regulation. These people's patterns of perception, thought and response are fixed and inflexible, although their behaviour is unpredictable.
The Narcissistic Personality has three behaviours at its core; Arrogance, feeling superior to others; domineering behaviour, dictatorial, ordering others around; selfishly greedy, wanting to possess much more than they deserve.
The Narcissist personality is characterised by an inflated sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, extreme self-involvement and they lack empathy for others. People with this personality are usually arrogantly self-assured and over confident. They expect to be noticed as superior. Many highly successful individuals might be considered narcissistic. However, this disorder is only diagnosed when these behaviours become persistent and very disabling or distressing.
Vulnerability in self-esteem makes individuals with this personality very sensitive to criticism or defeat. Although they may not show it outwardly, criticism may haunt them and may leave them feeling humiliated, degraded, hollow and empty. They may react with disdain, rage, or defiant counterattack. Their social life is often impaired due to problems derived from entitlement, the need for admiration, and the relative disregard for the sensitivities of others.
Even though their excessive ambition and confidence may lead to high achievement, performance may be disrupted due to intolerance of criticism or defeat. At times, their attempts at vocational functioning may be very low, reflecting an unwillingness to take a risk in competitive or other situations in which defeat is possible. People with this personality have particular difficulties in adjusting to growing old and losing their former superiority. They experience the loss in a much more acute and disturbing way than the average person.
Narcissistic traits are very common in adolescents, but most adolescents grow out of this behaviour. Unfortunately for some, this narcissistic behaviour persists and intensifies into adulthood. Some of the tyrant world leaders that have lived have exhibited these grandiose behaviours, exaggeration of their own talents or accomplishments, a sense of entitlement, exploitation of others, an arrogant, haughty attitude.
Mussolini was quoted as saying, "This is what I want on my tomb: 'Here lies one of the most intelligent animals whoever appeared on the face of the earth." We all know how vain and narcissistic Mao tse Tung was. A bit closer home is the arrogance, vanity and sense of entitlement that Tigerwoods, Bill Clinton et al displayed in their reckless behaviours.
Paranoid personalities tend to be dishonest and irresponsible. Hitler was quoted as saying, "If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed". He also went on to say, "I have not come into world to make men better, but to make use of their weakness."
Paranoid personalities display pervasive distrust and suspiciousness. Their common beliefs are that others are exploiting or deceiving them, that friends and associates are untrustworthy. They tend to believe that any information they confide to others will be used maliciously. They usually believe that there is hidden meaning in remarks or events that others perceive as benign. They tend to be overtly suspicious of their spouse's fidelity.
Historically, all of the world's most murderous leaders such as Hitler, Stalin, exhibited paranoid personality disorders and were grossly antisocial. They promoted a culture of fear in which no one was trusted; they promoted hatred of a common 'enemy' to gain political power. They convinced their followers that they were the 'victims' of a global conspiracy of evil. These leaders established totalitarian regimes which dealt ruthlessly with any of their citizens that opposed them. I wonder how history and posterity will assess our very own present day leaders. What do the behaviours of the leaders Nigeria has had or should I say that have had Nigeria say of their mental health?
The Antisocial Personality displays a persuasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others and the rules of society, which is further compounded with a lack of remorse.
The contents in this column are only meant as information and should not be used as an alternative to seeking professional attention if required.
