Personality disorders

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DIFFICULT EMOTIONS

Feeling nothing can be as devastating as feeling too much

Emotional ‘emptiness’ is a damaging, underexplored phenomenon. Better understanding it could help steer people to fulfilment

by Christopher J Hopwood

Black and white photo of a man smoking at a desk as a woman with glasses looks at papers beside him in an office setting.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Popular views of narcissism are distorted and too pessimistic

As therapists, we’ve treated people with narcissistic personality disorder. We have a more hopeful story to tell about them

by Giancarlo Dimaggio & Igor Weinberg

Blurry sepia photo of two children sliding down a playground slide in sunlight.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS

To understand borderline personality, imagine having no history

For people with an unfairly stigmatised mental health condition, and the rest of us, it’s vital to connect past with present

by Alexander Kriss

Photo of a fluffy black dog lying on a sofa with a person in a red checkered shirt sitting behind on the left.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS

There’s a growing case for renaming ‘personality disorders’

The concept of personality disorders has been around for centuries but it’s flawed and needs both a rethink and a new name

by Matt Huston

Abstract painting of a dark silhouette on a textured brown and blue background with areas of peeling, suggesting age or decay.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS

People with BPD need compassion yet even clinicians stigmatise them

Both clinicians and laypeople misunderstand and stigmatise borderline personality disorder. Those who have it deserve better

by Sara Rose Masland & Hannah E A Peeples

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PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Some people feel so utterly alone it’s as if they don’t exist

People diagnosed with ‘avoidant personality disorder’ fear getting close to other people, yet crave greater connection

by Kristine Dahl Sørensen & Marit Råbu

Photo of a man and woman conversing beside a yellow taxi on a city street; the woman is holding the taxi door open.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS

What the new science of narcissism says about narcissists

What the new science of narcissism tells us about its nuances, and how to avoid its darts while gaining from its strengths

by W Keith Campbell & Carolyn Crist

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VIRTUES AND VICES

Are people with dark personality traits more likely to succeed?

Turn towards the light: contrary to popular belief, nice guys have more success and happiness in the long run

by Craig Neumann & Scott Barry Kaufman