Personality Disorders: a "maladaptive" personality pattern. (Coon, 537) A major deviation from normal patterns of behavior. (MeSH)

Enduring and inflexible ways of thinking about the world or acting in it. (Involves) ways of thinking and acting that deviate significantly from what is considered appropriate by the rest of society. (Cardwell, 182) Inflexible, maladaptive patterns of thoughts, "emotions,"  "behavior," and interpersonal functioning that are stable over time and across situations, and deviate from the expectations of the individual’s "culture." (Hockenbury, 527) The "DSM” distinguishes ten separate personality disorders which are grouped into the three clusters. (Cardwell, 182)

Gaslighting: a rare form of psychological abuse, where perpetrators seek to manipulate their victim by making them doubt their own sanity, memory, or perception. The end goal may simply be about control, or destroying someone’s self esteem, but can be for financial gain, or to engineer the break-up of a relationship. It’s name derives from a 1938 play called ‘Gaslight.’ (Leschziner, 107)

Personality Cluster A: odd or eccentric personality disorder. (Hockenbury, 527)

Paranoid Personality Disorder: a personality disorder characterized by the avoidance of accepting deserved blame and an unwarranted view of others as malevolent. The latter is expressed as suspiciousness, hypersensitivity, and mistrust. (MeSH) People who display a deep distrust and suspiciousness of others. (Cardwell, 182) Characterized by a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of the motives of others without sufficient basis. (Hockenbury, 527)

Personality Cluster B: dramatic, emotional or erratic personality disorders. (Hockenbury, 527)

Antisocial Personality Disorder: people who show a consistent disregard for the rights and feelings of others. (Cardwell, 182) Essential feature is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others. (MeSH) Manifested in childhood or early adolescence. (NCIt)

Borderline Personality Disorder: a personality disorder marked by a pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. (MeSH) Characterized by instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, and marked impulsivity. (Hockenbury, 528) A serious mental illness marked by unstable moods and impulsive behavior. People with borderline personality disorder have problems with relationships, family and work life, long-term planning, and self-identity. Symptoms include intense bouts of anger, depression, and anxiety that may lead to self-injury or suicide, drug or alcohol abuse, excessive spending, binge eating, or risky sex. A person with BPD who is diagnosed with cancer may be at an increased risk of suicide. (NCIt)

Personality Cluster C: anxious or fearful personality disorder. (Hockenbury, 527)

Dependent Personality Disorder: a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. (MeSH) People who have total reliance on others and seem incapable of making even minor decisions themselves. (Cardwell, 182) Leads the individual to urgently seek out and submit to another person and allow that person to make decisions that impact all areas of the individual's life. (NCIt)