Personality is the unique set of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns that define how an individual thinks, feels, and acts in various situations. It includes a person’s temperament, character, and learned behaviors.
🎯 Key Characteristics of Personality:
Unique: No two individuals have identical personalities.
Stable: Relatively consistent over time.
Dynamic: Can develop and mature through life experiences.
Influenced by: Genetics, environment, culture, family, education, and life experiences.
🧠 “The Big Five personality traits are Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN).”
🧠 “Type A personalities are more prone to stress-related heart diseases.”
🧠 “Personality is relatively stable but influenced by environment and experiences.”
🧠 “Cluster B personality disorders include dramatic and emotional behaviors.”
🧠 “Eysenck’s personality model focuses on Extroversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism.”
📘 Relationship Between Personality and Psychiatric Disorders
✅ 1. Personality as a Predisposing Factor:
Certain personality traits make individuals more vulnerable to mental illnesses.
Example:
High Neuroticism → Increased risk of Anxiety and Depression.
Low Agreeableness and Conscientiousness → Associated with Antisocial Behaviors.
High Introversion → Predisposed to Social Anxiety Disorder.
✅ 2. Personality Changes as a Result of Psychiatric Disorders:
Long-standing psychiatric conditions can alter personality traits.
Example:
Chronic Schizophrenia → Emotional blunting, social withdrawal.
Major Depression → Increased pessimism, low self-esteem.
Dementia → Personality becomes rigid, irritable, or socially inappropriate.
✅ 3. Personality Disorders as Psychiatric Diagnoses:
Personality Disorders are classified as mental disorders in both ICD-10 and DSM-5. They manifest as enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate markedly from cultural expectations.
🧠 “Personality traits influence vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.”
🧠 “Cluster B Personality Disorders are associated with dramatic and erratic behavior.”
🧠 “Borderline Personality Disorder frequently coexists with depression and self-harm tendencies.”
🧠 “Type A personality is prone to stress-related physical and psychological disorders.”
🧠 “Personality disorders are chronic and pervasive patterns of behavior causing distress or impairment.”
✅ 1. Which personality disorder is most commonly associated with self-harming behavior and emotional instability?
A) Narcissistic Personality Disorder B) Antisocial Personality Disorder C) Borderline Personality Disorder D) Paranoid Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: C) Borderline Personality Disorder Rationale: Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by unstable relationships, intense emotions, poor self-image, impulsivity, and self-harming behaviors.
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✅ 2. A patient frequently lies, shows no remorse after harming others, and engages in criminal activities. Which personality disorder does this indicate?
A) Schizoid Personality Disorder B) Antisocial Personality Disorder C) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder D) Avoidant Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Antisocial Personality Disorder Rationale: Antisocial Personality Disorder involves a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others, deceitfulness, and lack of remorse.
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✅ 3. Which personality type is most prone to developing stress-related heart disease and hypertension?
A) Type A Personality B) Type B Personality C) Type C Personality D) Type D Personality
Correct Answer: A) Type A Personality Rationale: Type A individuals are competitive, impatient, and easily stressed, making them more prone to cardiovascular diseases.
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✅ 4. Avoidance of social situations due to fear of criticism is a feature of which personality disorder?
A) Schizotypal Personality Disorder B) Avoidant Personality Disorder C) Paranoid Personality Disorder D) Histrionic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Avoidant Personality Disorder Rationale: Individuals with Avoidant Personality Disorder avoid social interactions due to feelings of inadequacy and fear of rejection or criticism.
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✅ 5. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)?
A) Intrusive unwanted thoughts and rituals B) Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking C) Preoccupation with orderliness and perfectionism D) Lack of interest in social relationships
Correct Answer: C) Preoccupation with orderliness and perfectionism Rationale: OCPD is characterized by excessive perfectionism, rigidity, and a preoccupation with control, often at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.
✅ 1. Which personality disorder is associated with unstable interpersonal relationships and frequent self-harming behavior?
A) Antisocial Personality Disorder B) Borderline Personality Disorder C) Schizoid Personality Disorder D) Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Borderline Personality Disorder Rationale: This disorder is characterized by emotional instability, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, and self-injurious behavior.
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✅ 2. Which personality disorder is most commonly seen in habitual criminals and individuals showing disregard for social rules?
A) Avoidant Personality Disorder B) Histrionic Personality Disorder C) Antisocial Personality Disorder D) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: C) Antisocial Personality Disorder Rationale: These individuals show persistent patterns of disregard for the rights of others and lack remorse for their actions.
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✅ 3. Which personality type is more prone to hypertension and coronary heart diseases?
A) Type A B) Type B C) Type C D) Type D
Correct Answer: A) Type A Rationale: Type A personality is characterized by competitiveness, hostility, and time urgency, increasing the risk of heart disease.
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✅ 4. Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior are characteristic of which personality disorder?
A) Borderline Personality Disorder B) Histrionic Personality Disorder C) Narcissistic Personality Disorder D) Avoidant Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Histrionic Personality Disorder Rationale: Individuals with this disorder seek attention and often display dramatic and exaggerated emotions.
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✅ 5. Which personality disorder involves persistent suspicion and mistrust of others?
A) Paranoid Personality Disorder B) Schizoid Personality Disorder C) Avoidant Personality Disorder D) Antisocial Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A) Paranoid Personality Disorder Rationale: These individuals believe others intend to harm or deceive them and are constantly suspicious.
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✅ 6. Which personality disorder is most often associated with perfectionism and a preoccupation with rules and order?
A) Borderline Personality Disorder B) Schizotypal Personality Disorder C) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) D) Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: C) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) Rationale: OCPD is marked by rigidity, perfectionism, and control, often at the expense of flexibility.
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✅ 7. Which personality disorder is characterized by social withdrawal and lack of interest in forming relationships?
A) Schizoid Personality Disorder B) Avoidant Personality Disorder C) Dependent Personality Disorder D) Paranoid Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A) Schizoid Personality Disorder Rationale: Individuals with Schizoid Personality Disorder prefer isolation and show little interest in social or intimate relationships.
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✅ 8. Patients with exaggerated sense of self-importance and a constant need for admiration likely have which personality disorder?
A) Borderline Personality Disorder B) Narcissistic Personality Disorder C) Histrionic Personality Disorder D) Dependent Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Narcissistic Personality Disorder Rationale: Narcissistic individuals often have a grandiose sense of self and seek admiration.
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✅ 9. Which personality disorder is associated with fear of rejection and avoidance of social interactions despite a desire for relationships?
A) Avoidant Personality Disorder B) Paranoid Personality Disorder C) Schizoid Personality Disorder D) Antisocial Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A) Avoidant Personality Disorder Rationale: These individuals avoid social situations due to fear of criticism and rejection.
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✅ 10. Which personality disorder includes odd beliefs and magical thinking?
A) Paranoid Personality Disorder B) Schizotypal Personality Disorder C) Schizoid Personality Disorder D) Histrionic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Schizotypal Personality Disorder Rationale: This disorder involves eccentric behaviors and magical or superstitious thinking.
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✅ 11. A patient constantly seeks reassurance and is overly dependent on others for decision-making. This is suggestive of:
A) Borderline Personality Disorder B) Avoidant Personality Disorder C) Dependent Personality Disorder D) Antisocial Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: C) Dependent Personality Disorder Rationale: These individuals lack self-confidence and depend on others to make decisions for them.
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✅ 12. Which cluster of personality disorders is associated with odd and eccentric behavior?
A) Cluster A B) Cluster B C) Cluster C D) Cluster D
Correct Answer: A) Cluster A Rationale: Cluster A includes Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal personality disorders characterized by odd and eccentric behaviors.
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✅ 13. Which personality disorder is commonly seen in patients with frequent mood swings and intense fear of abandonment?
A) Histrionic Personality Disorder B) Narcissistic Personality Disorder C) Borderline Personality Disorder D) Antisocial Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: C) Borderline Personality Disorder Rationale: Fear of abandonment and unstable relationships are hallmarks of Borderline Personality Disorder.
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✅ 14. Which cluster of personality disorders is termed “Dramatic, Emotional, and Erratic”?
A) Cluster A B) Cluster B C) Cluster C D) Cluster D
Correct Answer: B) Cluster B Rationale: Cluster B includes Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic personality disorders.
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✅ 15. Which personality disorder is associated with manipulative behavior and a lack of remorse?
A) Schizoid Personality Disorder B) Antisocial Personality Disorder C) Borderline Personality Disorder D) Avoidant Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Antisocial Personality Disorder Rationale: Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder frequently engage in deceitful and manipulative behavior without remorse.
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✅ 16. Which of the following is a characteristic of Type D Personality?
A) Competitive and Hostile B) Socially Withdrawn and Pessimistic C) Relaxed and Easy-going D) Emotionally Expressive
Correct Answer: B) Socially Withdrawn and Pessimistic Rationale: Type D Personality is characterized by negative emotions and social inhibition, increasing the risk of heart disease.
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✅ 17. Which personality disorder is associated with extreme dependency and fear of separation?
A) Avoidant Personality Disorder B) Dependent Personality Disorder C) Borderline Personality Disorder D) Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Dependent Personality Disorder Rationale: Individuals with Dependent Personality Disorder have an intense fear of being left alone and require constant support from others.
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✅ 18. Which of the following personality disorders shows excessive devotion to work at the expense of leisure and relationships?
A) Antisocial Personality Disorder B) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) C) Histrionic Personality Disorder D) Borderline Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) Rationale: Individuals with OCPD are preoccupied with perfectionism and work at the cost of personal relationships.
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✅ 19. Which personality disorder is least likely to seek help due to distrust of others?
A) Paranoid Personality Disorder B) Borderline Personality Disorder C) Histrionic Personality Disorder D) Dependent Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A) Paranoid Personality Disorder Rationale: Due to chronic suspicion and mistrust, these individuals are less likely to seek professional help.
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✅ 20. Which of the following personality disorders frequently coexists with substance abuse?
A) Antisocial Personality Disorder B) Avoidant Personality Disorder C) Schizoid Personality Disorder D) Dependent Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A) Antisocial Personality Disorder Rationale: Substance abuse is common among individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder due to impulsivity and disregard for consequences.
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✅ 21. Which personality type is known for being relaxed and stress-resistant?
A) Type A B) Type B C) Type C D) Type D
Correct Answer: B) Type B Rationale: Type B individuals are easy-going, patient, and handle stress well.
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✅ 22. A patient presents with fixed and rigid beliefs about morality, is overly focused on rules, and finds it hard to adapt. This indicates:
A) Narcissistic Personality Disorder B) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder C) Borderline Personality Disorder D) Histrionic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: B) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Rationale: OCPD is characterized by rigidity, perfectionism, and control.
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✅ 23. Which cluster of personality disorders includes anxious and fearful behavior patterns?
A) Cluster A B) Cluster B C) Cluster C D) Cluster D
Correct Answer: C) Cluster C Rationale: Cluster C includes Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders.
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✅ 24. Which personality disorder involves eccentric behavior and magical thinking without full psychosis?
A) Schizotypal Personality Disorder B) Schizoid Personality Disorder C) Paranoid Personality Disorder D) Histrionic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A) Schizotypal Personality Disorder Rationale: Schizotypal Personality Disorder involves odd beliefs and behavior but does not meet the criteria for psychosis.
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✅ 25. Which therapeutic approach is most effective for treating personality disorders?
A) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) B) Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) C) Hypnosis D) Insulin Shock Therapy
Correct Answer: A) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Rationale: CBT helps modify dysfunctional thinking and behavior patterns and is the first-line psychological treatment for many personality disorders.