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SYNOPSIS

Diagnostic Features
Individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder grow up having emotional instability and attention-seeking. The core features of this disorder are: (1) negative emotions (emotional lability), and (2) antagonism (attention-seeking, manipulativeness). This disorder is only diagnosed if: (1) it begins no later than early adulthood, (2) these behaviors occur at home, work, and in the community, and (3) these behaviors lead to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Histrionic Personality Disorder should not be diagnosed if its symptoms can be better explained as due to another mental disorder, Substance Use Disorder, or another medical condition (e.g., head trauma).

Their expression of emotion is overly dramatic and theatrical ("drama queen"). They may embarrass friends by their excessive public display of emotions.


Negative Emotions
??_Expresses emotion in exaggerated and theatrical ways.
??_Emotions change rapidly and unpredictably.



Antagonism
??_Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention
??_Inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior
??_Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self
??_Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion
??_Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are


Individuals with this disorder may have difficulty achieving emotional intimacy in romantic relationships. Without being aware of it, they often act out a role (e.g., "victim" or "princess"). They may seek to control their partner through emotional manipulation or seductiveness on one level, whereas displaying a marked dependency on them at another level.

Individuals with this disorder often have impaired relationships with same-sex friends because of their sexually provocative behavior or their demands for constant attention. They crave novelty, stimulation, and excitement and have a tendency to become bored with their usual routine. Often old relationships are neglected to make way for the excitement of new relationships. Although they often initiate a job or project with great enthusiasm, their interest may lag quickly.

Like all personality disorders, Histrionic Personality Disorder is a deeply ingrained and enduring behaviour pattern, manifesting as an inflexible response to a broad range of personal and social

.... Like all personality disorders, Histrionic Personality Disorder is a deeply ingrained and enduring behaviour pattern, manifesting as an inflexible response to a broad range of personal and social situations. This behavior represents an extreme or significant deviation from the way in which the average individual in a given culture relates to others. This behaviour pattern tends to be stable.

My "Abnormal Behaviour" class was incredibly interesting and insightful. I finished with a very nice grade in the 90's not that any of it makes me an expert.

Here is the link to the above information: http://www.mentalhealth.com/home/dx/histrionicpersonality.html

Note: Antisocial, Narcissistic, Borderline, and Histrionic Personality Disorders are all closely related since they all share the same core feature of antagonism. This core feature is an exaggerated sense of self-importance, insensitivity towards the feelings and needs of others, and callous exploitation of others. These antagonistic behaviors put the individual at odds with other people. If an individual has one of these antagonistic personality disorders, they are very likely to have another.


I found all of this information interesting and thought I would share it with you ... I hope you enjoy my little impromptu class on "Abnormal Behaviour" 🙂