Page 42 - Design Thinking C11

• High emotional intelligence creates a supportive environment, where others feel understood and valued,
deepening relationships.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are characterised by undesirable and inflexible long-term habits of thought and
behaviour. A personality disorder is a style of thinking, feeling, and acting that deviates from social standards
and produces long-term pain. There are mainly three groups of personality disorders. Let us learn about
them.

Group A: Suspicious
People in this group are always suspicious and mistrustful of others, even when there is no need to be. For
example, Rohan is a shop owner. He has an employee who has been working in his shop for three years.
Despite the employee’s consistent honesty and dedication, Rohan remains suspicious of him. He constantly
watches the employee’s actions, checks the cash register multiple times a day, and questions minor activities.
This behaviour creates tension between Rohan and his employee.
Following are different types of personality disorders developed in people showing suspicious behaviour:
• Paranoid personality disorder: It is characterised by suspicion towards others, especially friends, family
members, and lovers. People with this disease frequently harbour grudges against others.
• Schizoid personality disorder: The word “schizoid” refers to the natural propensity to shift one’s attention
away from the exterior world and onto one’s inner existence. A person suffering from schizoid personality
disorder is remote and aloof, with an inclination towards introspection and fantasising. The individual
appears to be emotionally frigid and displays little interest in building personal ties.
• Schizotypal personality disorder: Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD) is characterised by eccentric
beliefs and behaviours, such as the belief that one can influence people or events through thoughts
(magical thinking). Individuals with STPD often misinterpret the actions of others, leading to inappropriate
emotional responses. They may struggle with forming intimate relationships due to social anxiety, a fear
of being misunderstood, or discomfort in close interactions. This disorder can result in significant social
isolation and difficulty in maintaining relationships.

Group B: Emotional and Impulsive Behaviour
This personality disorder is distinguished by fluctuating emotions and behaviours, that results in poor and
unstable relationships, emotional instability, and sense of worthlessness. For example, Meera is a college
student. Whenever she faces criticism or performs poorly in exams, she becomes extremely upset and argues
with her friends. Instead of learning from her mistakes, she withdraws from social interactions. Despite her
parents and teachers trying to support her, Meera often feels angry, worthless, and reacts by shouting at
them.

Following are different types of personality disorders developed in people showing emotional and impulsive
behaviour:
• Antisocial personality disorder: It is characterised by a disdain for social rules and duties. They are irritable
and aggressive, and they behave rashly. They have a lack of shame and fail to learn from their mistakes.
They may lie, steal, abuse, and may develop an addiction to alcohol or narcotics.
• Borderline personality disorder: People with borderline personality disorder lack a sense of self-worth,
resulting in feelings of emptiness and anxieties of abandonment. A pattern of emotional instability,
aggressive outbursts, and impulsive behaviour exists. Suicidal ideation and self-harm are widespread in
persons with this personality disorder. They may struggle to cope with stressful situations.

Design Thinking and Innovation XII
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