How to Coach Yourself and Others Beware of Manipulation | Page 20

Paranoid personality disorder:
A mental disorder characterized by paranoia and a pervasive, long-standing suspiciousness and
generalized mistrust of others. Individuals with this personality disorder may be hypersensitive, easily
feel slighted, and habitually relate to the world by vigilant scanning of the environment for clues or
suggestions that may validate their fears or biases. Paranoid individuals are eager observers. They think
they are in danger and look for signs and threats of that danger, potentially not appreciating other
evidence.
They tend to be guarded and suspicious and have quite constricted emotional lives. Their reduced
capacity for meaningful emotional involvement and the general pattern of isolated withdrawal often
lend a quality of schizoid isolation to their life experience. People with this particular disorder may or
may not have a tendency to bear grudges, suspiciousness, tendency to interpret others' actions as
hostile, persistent tendency to self-reference, or a tenacious sense of personal right

Borderline personality disorder:
(BPD) (called emotionally unstable personality disorder, borderline type in the ICD-10) is a personality
disorder characterized by unusual variability and depth of moods. These moods may secondarily affect
cognition and interpersonal relationships.
Other symptoms of BPD include impulsive behavior, intense and unstable interpersonal relationships,
unstable self-image, feelings of abandonment and an unstable sense of self. An unstable sense of self
can lead to periods of dissociation. People with BPD often engage in idealization and devaluation of
others, alternating between high positive regard and heavy disappointment or dislike. Such behavior
can reflect a black-and-white thinking style, as well as the intensity with which people with BPD feel
emotions. Self-harm and suicidal behavior are common and may require inpatient psychiatric care.

Dependent personality disorder
(DPD), formerly known as asthenic personality disorder, is a personality disorder that is characterized
by a pervasive psychological dependence on other people. This personality disorder is a long-term
(chronic) condition in which people depend on others to meet their emotional and physical needs, with
only a minority achieving normal levels of independence.
View of others:
Individuals with DPD see other people as much more capable to shoulder life's responsibilities, to
navigate a complex world, and to deal with the competitions of life. Other people appear powerful,
competent, and capable of providing a sense of security and support to individuals with DPD.
Dependent individuals avoid situations that require them to accept responsibility for themselves; they
look to others to take the lead and provide continuous support.
DPD judgment of others is distorted by their inclination to see others as they wish they were, rather
than as they are. These individuals are fixated in the past. They maintain youthful impressions; they
retain unsophisticated ideas and childlike views of the people toward whom they remain totally
submissive. Individuals with DPD view strong caretakers, in particular, in an idealized manner; they
believe they will be all right as long as the strong figure upon whom they depend is accessible.

19