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A personality disorder test can help you take the first step if you have started exploring your emotional health. Take the personality disorder test below to help determine if you have any concerning symptoms you may need to address.
Understanding Personality Disorders
Every individual’s personality varies because of inherited characteristics, environment, and experiences. However, over time, personality typically remains the same.
Nevertheless, when behavior deviates from the culture’s norms and starts causing impairment or distress for an individual because of its duration, the person can have one of ten types of personality disorders.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, people with personality disorder feel affected by at least two of the following: how they think about themselves and others, how they respond emotionally, how they relate to others, and how they control their behavior.
Furthermore, most personality disorders begin in adolescence or the early years of adulthood. When left untreated, the symptoms are often long-lasting. Some people with one personality disorder often have symptoms of at least one more type.
Often, people don’t realize they have a personality disorder since they think it’s natural to think and act in a specific way or blame others for how they feel.
Diagnosing a personality disorder requires a mental health professional evaluation and is only done on people older than 18 to ensure they have a fully developed personality.
Personality Disorder Test and Answers
This personality disorder test can help you identify which issues affect your daily life. However, a “yes” answer to one or more of these questions does not always indicate a personality disorder because mental health professionals place your answers on a scale of their severity before making their final assessment.
- Do you have an unavoidable distrust and suspiciousness of other people? Yes – No
- Have you had a pattern of detachment from social relationships? Yes – No
- Do you lack the need to be in close relationships or part of a family? Yes – No
- Do you ever find you have trouble thinking or speaking? Yes – No
- Do you often feel social anxiety, even in familiar situations? Yes – No
- Do you frequently feel irritable and aggressive? Yes – No
- Have you ever experienced a reckless disregard for yourself or the people around you? Yes – No
- Have you felt long-lasting emptiness or loneliness? Yes – No
- Are you uncomfortable in situations where you are not the center of attention? Yes – No
- Are you hesitant to take personal risks or engage in new activities? Yes – No
- Do you prefer to seek solitary activities? Yes – No
- Are you often uninterested when others praise or criticize you? Yes – No
Note: Whether you have any of the above symptoms, even if they don’t constitute a personality disorder, you may want to seek help from a mental health professional to explore their root cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the symptoms of the various personality disorders?
The Mayo Clinic describes the three clusters for personality disorders. Each group shares similar characteristics and symptoms. However, you don’t need to exhibit all the signs for a diagnosis.
Cluster A
The personality disorders found under Cluster A are paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. Their common characteristics include odd or eccentric thinking and behavior.
Paranoid personality disorder
· Persistent distrust and suspicion of people
· Unfounded belief that they want to deceive or harm you.
· Skepticism about loyalty and trustworthiness shown by others
· Unreasonable fear of confiding in others, fearing a betrayal
· You perceive innocent remarks as personal insults or consider non-threatening situations as attacks
· Your reactions to perceived insults are hostile
· You tend to hold grudges
· Constant suspicion that your partner or spouse is unfaithful
Schizoid personality disorder
· You prefer to be alone instead of having social or personal relationships
· Very little or no interest in having a sexual relationship with another person
· Little emotional expression
· Cannot take pleasure in most events
· Can’t pick up typical social cues
· You appear indifferent to others
Schizotypal personality disorder
· Your thinking, dress, beliefs, speech, or behavior are peculiar
· Unusual perceptual experiences
· Inappropriate or flat emotional responses
· Social anxiety
· Don’t have or feel uncomfortable in close relationships
· You respond indifferently, inappropriately, or suspiciously to others
· You believe you can influence things with your thoughts
· See hidden messages to you in some incidents or events
Cluster B
The personality disorders found under Cluster B include antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders. Their common characteristics include unpredictable or emotional thinking and behavior.
Antisocial personality disorder
· Disregard for the needs or feelings of others
· Constantly lying, stealing, using pseudonyms, or conning others
· Recurring complications with the law
· Repeatedly violating other people’s rights
· Aggressive or violent behavior
· Disregarding your safety or that of others
· Impulsive and thoughtless behavior
· Consistently act irresponsibly
· Never feeling remorse
Borderline personality disorder
· Impulsive and risky behavior
· Fragile or unstable self-image or relationships
· Mood swings, especially as a reaction to social stress
· Threats of self-injury or suicidal behavior
· Fear of abandonment or being alone
· Continuous feelings of emptiness
· Frequent and intense shows of anger
· Recurring stress-related paranoia
Histrionic personality disorder
· Constant attention-seeking
· Seeking attention with excessive emotional or dramatic displays or by being sexually provocative
· Voicing strong opinions but without facts
· Easily influenced
· Shallow emotions with quick changes
· Extreme anxiety about physical appearance
· Misperceives closeness with others in relationships
Narcissistic personality disorder
· A belief you’re more important than others
· You fail to recognize other’s feelings and needs
· Seek constant admiration and praise
· Fantasize about success, power, and attractiveness
· Exaggerate your talents and achievements
· Arrogance
· You take advantage of others and have unreasonable expectations of advantages and favors
· Envy of others or believe they envy you
Cluster C
The personality disorders found under Cluster C include avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Their common characteristics include anxious or fearful behavior or thinking.
Avoidant personality disorder
· Very sensitive to disapproval or rejection
· Constant feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, or unattractiveness
· Avoid activities requiring interpersonal contact
· Socially inhibited, fearful, and isolated, leading to the avoidance of activities or meeting strangers
· Extreme shyness in social settings and personal relationships
· Fear of disapproval, embarrassment, or ridicule
Dependent personality disorder
· Severe dependence on others to care for you
· Subservient or clingy behavior toward others
· Fear of being alone or fending for yourself
· Lack of self-confidence, especially when making decisions or starting a project
· You fear disapproval, so you cannot disagree with others
· Tolerate poor treatment, even when you have options
· Need for a new relationship when another has ended
Obsessive-compulsive
· Preoccupation with orderliness, details, and rules
· Extreme perfectionism, to the point of distress
· You want to control everything and everyone without ever being able to delegate
· Excessively committed to work, neglecting friends and family
· Cannot part with objects, even when they are worthless
· Unbending and stubborn, including with issues like ethics, morality, and values
· Tight with money
2. What causes personality disorders?
Every person’s personality is shaped during childhood, making each person unique. During this time, your inherited genes and environmental influences can trigger the development of a personality disorder.
3. What are the risk factors that could trigger a personality disorder?
The exact reason why some people have personality disorders remains unknown, but some things appear to trigger them. These may include an abusive or unstable childhood, a family history of mental illness or personality disorders, or brain structure or chemistry variations. Finally, sufferers of childhood conduct disorders seem to have a higher risk.
Final Take
If you suspect that you have the symptoms of a personality disorder, take the personality disorder test to see how you do. However, addressing your fears with a medical or mental health professional is always best, especially if your symptoms disrupt your life and relationship with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the symptoms of the various personality disorders?
The Mayo Clinic describes the three clusters for personality disorders. Each group shares similar characteristics and symptoms. However, you don’t need to exhibit all the signs for a diagnosis.
Cluster A
The personality disorders found under Cluster A are paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. Their common characteristics include odd or eccentric thinking and behavior.
Paranoid personality disorder
- Persistent distrust and suspicion of people
- Unfounded belief that they want to deceive or harm you.
- Skepticism about loyalty and trustworthiness shown by others
- Unreasonable fear of confiding in others, fearing a betrayal
- You perceive innocent remarks as personal insults or consider non-threatening situations as attacks
- Your reactions to perceived insults are hostile
- You tend to hold grudges
- Constant suspicion that your partner or spouse is unfaithful
Schizoid personality disorder
- You prefer to be alone instead of having social or personal relationships
- Very little or no interest in having a sexual relationship with another person
- Little emotional expression
- Cannot take pleasure in most events
- Can’t pick up typical social cues
- You appear indifferent to others
Schizotypal personality disorder
- Your thinking, dress, beliefs, speech, or behavior are peculiar
- Unusual perceptual experiences
- Inappropriate or flat emotional responses
- Social anxiety
- Don’t have or feel uncomfortable in close relationships
- You respond indifferently, inappropriately, or suspiciously to others
- You believe you can influence things with your thoughts
- See hidden messages to you in some incidents or events
Cluster B
The personality disorders found under Cluster B include antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders. Their common characteristics include unpredictable or emotional thinking and behavior.
Antisocial personality disorder
- Disregard for the needs or feelings of others
- Constantly lying, stealing, using pseudonyms, or conning others
- Recurring complications with the law
- Repeatedly violating other people’s rights
- Aggressive or violent behavior
- Disregarding your safety or that of others
- Impulsive and thoughtless behavior
- Consistently act irresponsibly
- Never feeling remorse
Borderline personality disorder
- Impulsive and risky behavior
- Fragile or unstable self-image or relationships
- Mood swings, especially as a reaction to social stress
- Threats of self-injury or suicidal behavior
- Fear of abandonment or being alone
- Continuous feelings of emptiness
- Frequent and intense shows of anger
- Recurring stress-related paranoia
Histrionic personality disorder
- Constant attention-seeking
- Seeking attention with excessive emotional or dramatic displays or by being sexually provocative
- Voicing strong opinions but without facts
- Easily influenced
- Shallow emotions with quick changes
- Extreme anxiety about physical appearance
- Misperceives closeness with others in relationships
Narcissistic personality disorder
- A belief you’re more important than others
- You fail to recognize other’s feelings and needs
- Seek constant admiration and praise
- Fantasize about success, power, and attractiveness
- Exaggerate your talents and achievements
- Arrogance
- You take advantage of others and have unreasonable expectations of advantages and favors.
- Envy of others or believe they envy you
Cluster C
The personality disorders found under Cluster C include avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Their common characteristics include anxious or fearful behavior or thinking.
Avoidant personality disorder
- Very sensitive to disapproval or rejection
- Constant feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, or unattractiveness
- Avoid activities requiring interpersonal contact
- Socially inhibited, fearful, and isolated, leading to the avoidance of activities or meeting strangers
- Extreme shyness in social settings and personal relationships
- Fear of disapproval, embarrassment, or ridicule
Dependent personality disorder
- Severe dependence on others to care for you
- Subservient or clingy behavior toward others
- Fear of being alone or fending for yourself
- Lack of self-confidence, especially when making decisions or starting a project
- You fear disapproval, so you cannot disagree with others
- Tolerate poor treatment, even when you have options
- Need for a new relationship when another has ended
Obsessive-compulsive
- Preoccupation with orderliness, details, and rules
- Extreme perfectionism, to the point of distress
- You want to control everything and everyone without ever being able to delegate
- Excessively committed to work, neglecting friends and family
- Cannot part with objects, even when they are worthless
- Unbending and stubborn, including with issues like ethics, morality, and values
- Tight with money
2. What causes personality disorders?
Every person’s personality is shaped during childhood, making each person unique. During this time, your inherited genes and environmental influences can trigger the development of a personality disorder.
3. What are the risk factors that could trigger a personality disorder?
The exact reason why some people have personality disorders remains unknown, but some things appear to trigger them. These may include an abusive or unstable childhood, a family history of mental illness or personality disorders, or brain structure or chemistry variations. Finally, sufferers of childhood conduct disorders seem to have a higher risk.
Tips for Diagnosis
If you think you or a loved one may have a personality disorder, it’s important to see a qualified mental health professional such as psychologists, psychiatrist, and therapists for assessment. A comprehensive evaluation typically involves psychological tests and interviews with close family members or friends. The test results can help diagnose the type of personality disorder present. The individual must complete a reliable and valid personality disorder test to make an accurate diagnosis. Such tests assess symptoms associated with various personality disorders to identify which criteria are met by the individual for each condition. These tests should provide information regarding any potential causes of the person’s condition and their degree of impairment due to their symptoms. This will allow for tailored treatments to be developed which will best address the individual’s needs.
Diagnosing any personality disorder is difficult, as the symptoms vary from one person to another and can also be affected by cultural norms and expectations. Therefore, it is important to keep an open mind when considering any potential diagnosis and realize the benefits associated with each disorder. With this in mind, it is possible to develop effective treatment plans that reduce the negative impacts of these disorders on individuals’ lives while allowing them to benefit from having a better understanding of their personalities.
Final Take
If you suspect that you have the symptoms of a personality disorder, take the personality disorder test to see how you do. However, addressing your fears with a medical or mental health professional is always best, especially if your symptoms disrupt your life and relationship with others.
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