KENYATTA UNIVERSITY PARKLANDS CAMPUS

GROUP 8, STREAM 1 2023/2023

UNIT: COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
SKILLS.
MOTIF: THE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND COMMUNICATION
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1:...............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................1
Cluster A: Odd or eccentric personality disorders...................................................................................1
Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic personality disorders.............................................................1
Cluster C: Anxious or fearful personality disorders.................................................................................2
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................................................................3
THE ASSESMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND HOW THEY AFFECT
COMMUNCATION................................................................................................................................3
1.) Antisocial Personality Disorder...............................................................................................3
2.) Avoidant Personality Disorder.................................................................................................3
3.) Borderline Personality Disorder...............................................................................................4
4.) Dependent Personality Disorder..............................................................................................5
5.) Histrionic Personality Disorder................................................................................................5
6.) Narcissistic Personality disorders............................................................................................6
7.) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders..........................................................................6
8.) Paranoid Personality Disorder.....................................................................................................7
9.) Schizoid personality disorder...................................................................................................8
10.) Schizotypal personality disorder..............................................................................................8
CHAPTER 3................................................................................................................................................9
HOW ARE PERSONALITY DISORDERS UNDERMINED?...............................................................9
CHAPTER 5:.............................................................................................................................................10
HOW TO PROMOTE AWARENESS..................................................................................................10
CHAPTER 6.................................................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................11
 CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION
Effective communication serves as a foundation for human interaction, influencing relationships,
workplaces, and societies. Nevertheless, individuals with personality disorders may face significant
difficulties in communicating effectively. Personality disorders are intricate mental health conditions that
affect how individuals perceive, think, and interact with the world. These conditions are characterized by
inflexible and maladaptive thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns that persist over time and across
diverse situations.

Personality disorders are characterized by a distinct set of symptoms that can vary in intensity and
manifestation. Within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5),
there are 10 recognized personality disorders. These disorders are categorized into three clusters based on
their shared traits:

Cluster A: Odd or eccentric personality disorders

1. Paranoid personality disorder: It is marked by a general sense of distrust and suspicion towards
others.

2. Schizoid personality disorder: It involves detachment from others and a restricted range of
emotional expression with a preference for solitary activities.

3. Schizotypal personality disorder: It is characterized by unusual beliefs or magical thinking,

peculiar behavior, and difficulty in forming close relationships.

Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic personality disorders

1. Antisocial personality disorder: It is characterized by a disregard for the rights of others,
deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, and lack of remorse for harmful actions.

2. Borderline personality disorder: It is characterized by unstable relationships, self-image, and

emotions, often leading to impulsive and self-destructive behaviors.

3. Narcissistic personality disorder: It involves a grandiose sense of self-importance, lack of

empathy, and a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, beauty, or ideal love.

4. Histrionic personality disorder: It involves a person often displaying attention-seeking behavior,

excessive emotionality, and a need for approval, leading to provocative or dramatic actions.

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Cluster C: Anxious or fearful personality disorders
1. Avoidant personality disorder (ADPD): It involves a fear of social interaction due to feelings of
inadequacy and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

2. Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD): It is characterized by excessive dependence on others for

emotional support, decision-making, and self-confidence, often leading to submissive and clingy
behavior.

3. Obsessive (OCPD)-Compulsive Personality Disorder: It involves an overwhelming preoccupation

with orderliness, perfectionism, and control, leading to rigidity, stubbornness, and difficulty
adapting to changing circumstances.

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CHAPTER TWO
THE ASSESMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND HOW THEY
AFFECT COMMUNCATION
A personality disorder is a mental condition where people have a lifelong pattern of seeing themselves or
relating to people in ways that may cause problems.

1.) Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), also known as sociopath or psychopathy, is a mental health
condition characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.

ASPD is characterized by impulsive, irresponsible and often criminal behavior. People with ASPD often
exhibit a lack of empathy, remorse, and a tendency to manipulate and exploit others. ASPD can pose a
significant barrier to communication in a variety of ways. The following are some specific examples of
how ASPD can affect communication:

 ASPD people often struggle to understand and share others' feelings. Unaware of their
actions, they may say or do things that are insensitive or hurtful, resulting in misunderstandings
and conflicts.

 The disorder is characterized by a lack of empathy, which means that people with ASPD have
difficulty understanding and caring about the feelings of others. As a result, it can be difficult for
them to build meaningful relationships and have authentic conversations.

 Communication through manipulation: People with ASPD are often skilled manipulators. It
may be necessary for them to lie, cheat, or flatter others in order to get what they want. In such
situations, people may have difficulty trusting them and communicating openly.

 Communication with impulsiveness and recklessness: People with ASPD have a tendency to
act impulsively and recklessly, causing them to say and do things without considering the
consequences. This can damage relationships and create conflict.

 Disregard for social norms: People with ASPD often disregard social norms and expectations.
This can lead to communication problems, as they may say or do things that are considered rude,
offensive, or inappropriate.

2.) Avoidant Personality Disorder

This disorder just as its name suggests involves avoiding social situations and interactions that may
involve a risk of rejection, criticism and humiliations. Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD),
characterized by social anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to criticism and avoidance of
relationships with others, can significantly impact communication in several ways.

Avoidance can make it difficult to form meaningful connections and relationships with others through:

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  Difficulty Initiating and Maintaining Conversations:

People with AVPD may struggle to initiate or maintain conversations due to their fear of being judged or
criticized. They may avoid making eye contact or speak softly, causing others to find it difficult to engage
them in a meaningful dialogue.

This can lead to misunderstandings, social isolation, and missed opportunities for connection.

 Misinterpreting Social Cues and Intentions:

People with AVPD tend to misinterpret social cues and the intentions of others, further complicating
communication. In response, they may withdraw from a situation if they perceive even neutral or positive
interactions as signs of disapproval—missed opportunities for connection that continue to spiral them into
isolation and loneliness.

This can create a cycle of avoidance and misinterpretation, making it difficult to build trust and
understanding.

 Hypersensitivity to Criticism and Feedback:

An AVPD patient's sensitivity to criticism and feedback, even mild or constructive, can trigger intense
feelings of inadequacy. This in turn creates defensiveness as an attempt at self-protection against further
humiliation by the perceived critic(s).

. This hypersensitivity can make it challenging for others to provide feedback or engage in constructive
conversations.

3.) Borderline Personality Disorder.

Persons with this disorder experience intense mood swings and feel uncertainty about how they see
themselves. These people can go from extremely liking someone to extreme dislike. These sudden
changes of their emotions make it incredibly difficult for others to relate with them. As a result they often
end up with unstable relationships and emotional pain. This instability can significantly impact
communication in various ways:

 Emotional Intensity and Impulsivity:

Individuals with BPD often experience intense emotions, such as anger, fear, and sadness, which can lead
to impulsive communication. They may say things they don't mean, make rash decisions, and engage in
conflict-driven interactions. This emotional intensity and impulsivity can make it challenging to have
rational conversations.

 Fear of Abandonment and Rejection:

BPD is characterized by an intense fear of abandonment and rejection. This fear can manifest in
communication patterns marked by clinginess and dependency. Individuals with BPD may constantly

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seek reassurance and validation, and they may react strongly to any perceived criticism or disapproval.
This can create a cycle of push-pull dynamics in relationships.

 Difficulty with Self-Disclosure and Emotional Expression:

While people with BPD experience intense emotions, they may struggle to express them in a healthy and
constructive way. They may suppress their feelings or express them in a way that is perceived as
inappropriate or overwhelming to others. This difficulty with self-disclosure and emotional expression
can hinder the formation of deeper connections and make it challenging for others to understand their
experiences.

4.) Dependent Personality Disorder.

These persons have a problem with taking care of themselves. They are helpless and submissive and
indecisive. They need someone to depend on. They fear being alone, responsibility and being abandoned.
Individuals with DPD need constant advising, assurance and emotional support. These traits tend to put
their burden on the person they depend on and more often than not it is frankly a lot for one to handle.
There it tends to ruin their relationships because they add on other people’s responsibility and one can
only handle so much. This dependency can significantly impact communication in various ways.

 Difficulties Expressing Needs and Opinions:

Due to their fear of rejection or abandonment, Individuals with DPD often struggle to express their needs
and opinions assertively. They may avoid expressing their preferences or opinions, deferring to others to
avoid conflict or criticism. This can lead to frustration for others and make it difficult for them to
understand the individual's true needs and desires.

 Difficulty Handling Criticism and Rejection:

People with DPD are extremely sensitive to criticism and rejection. Even mild criticism or perceived
disapproval can trigger intense emotional reactions, such as anxiety, sadness, or anger. This
hypersensitivity to criticism can make it challenging for others to provide constructive feedback or
engage in honest communication.

5.) Histrionic Personality Disorder

Individuals with HPD often engage in excessive attention-seeking behaviors, such as exaggerating or
fabricating stories, using dramatic language, and dressing or behaving in a provocative manner. These
persons are basically attention seekers. They tend to be very uncomfortable in situations where they are
not the center of attention. This pattern can significantly impact communication in various ways:

 Excessive Attention-Seeking Behavior:

This need for constant attention can lead to communication patterns where they dominate conversations,
interrupt others, and make exaggerated claims about their accomplishments or experiences. This can
make it difficult for others to have meaningful conversations or feel valued in the relationship.

 Emotionality and Theatricality:

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People with HPD often display intense and fluctuating emotions, which they may express in a dramatic or
theatrical manner. Others may find these emotional displays overwhelming or manipulative, and they
may withdraw from communication to avoid conflict or manipulation.

 Difficulty with Empathy and Understanding Others:

Since HPD is characterized by a difficulty with empathy and understanding the perspectives of others.
Individuals with HPD may focus primarily on their own needs and desires, making it challenging for
them to engage in genuine and reciprocal conversations. This lack of empathy can strain relationships and
make it difficult for others to feel understood or supported.

6.) Narcissistic Personality disorders.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition characterized by a pervasive pattern
of grandiosity, a need for admiration and a lack of empathy .They are also sort of attention seekers but
this is because they want others to admire them. These people often do not care for other people’s
feelings. They constantly want to prove how they are better than everyone else. These traits sort of attract
enemies and competitors rather than people who want to communicate and interact with them friendly.

 Sense of Entitlement:

Individuals with NPD often have an inflated sense of self-importance and believe they are superior to
others. This can manifest in communication patterns marked by boasting, exaggerating their
accomplishments, and seeking constant admiration. Others may find these behaviors arrogant, self-
centered, and insensitive, leading to communication breakdowns.

 Lack of Empathy:

NPD is characterized by a lack of empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
This lack of empathy can lead to hurtful communication, making it challenging to build meaningful
relationships.

 Defensive and Hypersensitive to Criticism:

People with NPD are often defensive and hypersensitive to criticism. Even mild or constructive feedback
can trigger intense emotional reactions, such as anger, shame, or humiliation. This hypersensitivity to
criticism can make it difficult for others to provide honest feedback or engage in open and honest
communication.

7.) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders.

These people are characterized by pervasive preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and control.
These characteristics slow down or interfere with completing a task. This disorder brings about petty
disagreements between the people living with the disorder and the people they relate to. This is majorly

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because normal people do not understand the seriousness behind their actions. A conflict might arise from
placing something an inch away from where it’s supposed to be.

 Rigidity and Difficulty with Change:

Individuals with OCPD often exhibit rigidity in their thinking and behavior, making it difficult for them
to adapt to change or accept new ideas. This rigidity can be through an insistence on following strict rules
or procedures, an aversion to spontaneity, and an inability to compromise. Others may find these
behaviors inflexible and frustrating, leading to communication breakdowns.

 Excessive Detail Orientation and Perfectionism:

People with OCPD are often preoccupied with details and have a strong desire for perfectionism.
Examples are; inability to let go of mistakes, and an insistence on doing things in a specific, often overly
complicated, manner. Others may find these behaviors nitpicky and time-consuming, hindering effective
communication.

 Difficulty Accepting Criticism and Feedback:

Defensiveness, a tendency to argue or justify their actions, and an inability to acknowledge their own
shortcomings can lead to others finding these behaviors dismissive and frustrating, making it challenging
to provide constructive feedback.

8.) Paranoid Personality Disorder.

They are characterized by a pervasive pattern of unwarranted distrust and suspicion of others. This
involves interpreting other people’s motives as malicious. These people see others as enemies and people
out to hurt or destroy them. This hinders effective communication and interaction with others.

 Tendency to Blame Others and Avoid Responsibility:

People with PPD often have a tendency to blame others for their problems and avoid taking responsibility
for their own actions. This tendency to blame others can strain relationships and make it difficult to
resolve conflicts constructively.

 Difficulty with Openness and Self-Disclosure:

People with PPD struggle with openness and self-disclosure, fearing that revealing their thoughts and
feelings will make them vulnerable to exploitation or harm. This leads to the growth of the tendency to
keep others at a distance and secrecy in conversations. This difficulty with openness can hinder the
formation of close and trusting relationships.

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 9.) Schizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder can impair effective communication due to the individual's pervasive
detachment from others and lack of interest in social relationships. Individuals with this disorder may
prefer to be alone, and may have difficulty expressing emotions or connecting with others in a meaningful
way. They may appear distant or cold, and may struggle with understanding or responding to social cues.
This can make it difficult for others to relate to them or engage with them in a meaningful way.

Additionally, individuals with schizoid personality disorder may have limited interests or hobbies and
may struggle with small talk or casual conversation, further complicating communication.

10.) Schizotypal personality disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder can impair effective communication due to the individual's odd or
eccentric behavior, unusual beliefs or thinking patterns, and difficulty with social interaction. Individuals
with this disorder may have unusual beliefs or perceptions, such as believing in telepathy or having
magical powers. They may also have difficulty with social interaction, such as difficulty reading social
cues or inappropriate emotional responses.

This can lead to a sense of social isolation or difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships.
Additionally, individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may struggle with expressing themselves
clearly or coherently, further complicating communication.

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CHAPTER 3
HOW ARE PERSONALITY DISORDERS UNDERMINED?
There are numerous negative presumptions and perceptions surrounding mental illnesses, personality
disorders being one of them. This attitude makes it extremely difficult for someone to seek help in order
to deal with their condition. In our society today, these personality disorders are highly undermined. You
will find that most parents wouldn’t take it as a serious health issue just because they don’t understand it
well enough. Most people with these disorders have a hard time coming out to their family and friends.
This makes it even harder to promote awareness because for awareness to be promoted people have to
come out and state their issues for people to understand and help them.

The various reasons which lead to undermining of the disorders are:

 Stigmatizing beliefs- there is a negative stigma attached to any mental illness. Once you say you
have one, people will judge and start looking at you differently. People might think less of you by
assuming you’re a bit crazy. Being actively labeled with a mental or emotional disability is hard
to get rid of once it’s established. These beliefs make someone constantly worry about what
others might think of them.

 Perceiving the problem as not enough- there is the perception that there are more serious
problems or illnesses compared to personality disorders. This perception makes it difficult for
people with these issues speak up and reaches out. They honestly believe that what they are going
through is not a big deal.

 Difficulty accessing help- this mostly occurs when friends and family have very limited
awareness of mental illnesses and are therefore unable to offer adequate help. However, there are
also inadequate resources, limited access to care and stigma. There is also the issue of not being
able to afford the health services.

 Fear of negative outcome- negative outcomes could be related to the fear that seeking help
would worsen their problem making them feel worse about themselves by talking to others about
it. Someone might worry that they’ll become burdensome to their family and friends once they
speak about it.

 Difficulty identifying or expressing concerns- when it becomes difficult to identify symptoms

or communicate concerns it makes it even more difficult to seek help. How do you seek help for
something you don’t fully understand? Sometimes you don’t even realize you have a problem.

 Belief that one can handle it on their own- this could be from an environment that is not
supportive and judgmental to such issues making it difficult for individuals to seek help. This
leads them to believe that they don’t need help because they have to help themselves

Diagnosis of all mental illnesses could be controversial. Due to the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses,
some who are diagnosed with these disorders might be in denial and claim that their feelings and
behaviors are a reasonable, human reaction to going through difficult experiences hence making it

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upsetting to call it an illness or disorder in their personality. Others might find the diagnosis helpful and
are glad that they can name and understand their experiences. The reason for this controversy could be the
way people chose to perceive these disorders. Some approach it just like any other serious health issue
that needs proper care while others view it as something minor that will eventually fix itself.

In Kenya, like many other places, awareness and understanding of personality disorders are growing.
However, there is still work to be done in terms of education, access to mental health resources and
reducing stigma. It is important to promote empathy and support for individuals with personality
disorders.

CHAPTER 5:
HOW TO PROMOTE AWARENESS
Promoting awareness about personality disorders is crucial in reducing stigma while encouraging early
diagnosis and treatment intervention. Here are some ways we can promote awareness;

1. Education

Campaigns- conducting education campaigns on personality disorders aimed at increasing knowledge

among the general public.

2. Training

Healthcare providers - Healthcare providers should receive training on how to recognize symptoms
associated with personality disorders while providing appreciate interventions.

3. Encouraging

Open conversation - Encouraging open conversations about mental health conditions without
stigmatizing those affected by these conditions.

4. Advocating for policy change - Advocating for policies that promote access to affordable mental
healthcare services while reducing stigma surrounding the mental health conditions.

The importance of promoting awareness is to encourage individuals to seek help for the purpose of
understanding that treatment can be beneficial to help learn skills of normalizing emotional responses,
coping with distress emotions, being effective in relationships and developing a positive self-evaluation.

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CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, effective communication is crucial in mental health awareness. Overall communication is a
vital part of mental health. From our research we've learned that individuals with personality disorders
may have a hard time communicating due to different communication barriers that they may face. They
do not have the same communication skills like everyone else hence people may find it hard to
communicate with them.

We’ve also seen that some of the things that undermine these disorders are stigmatization beliefs,
perceiving the problem as not enough, difficulty accessing help, fear of negative outcome, difficulty
identifying or expressing concerns and belief that one can handle it on their own. Mental illness is an on-
going process that requires collective efforts by educating the public, training, encouraging and
advocating for policy change to be able to help them overcome communication barriers, to be healthy and
happy and also to promote awareness.

Mental illness is a complex issue that needs to be understood by the public to be able to change their
perception on the issue. By doing this they will be able to provide support and an understanding society
where individuals suffering from personality disorders feel comfortable to seek help.

Communication is a powerful tool that can help break down barriers, dispel stigmas and encourage open
dialogue about mental health. Hence it is important to promote mental health awareness and promote an
understanding and a supportive environment for those struggling with mental health problems. By
communicating effectively we can maintain good mental health, build strong relationships and cope with
mental health challenges.

Some additional resources that you may find helpful;

National Alliance on mental illness (NAMI)

MentalHealth.gov:

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