Compare & Contrast

Kelly Consiglio posted Jun 3, 2018 8:27 PM

A personality disorder is defined as a mental illness caused by unhealthy behavioral and thought patterns that affects relationships, work, and every day stresses and problems.  (Health, 2018) Personality disorders are defined by the different symptoms experiences or performed by the individual and although the cause is mostly unknown, genetics may play a role in the development of a personality disorder. 

The case involving Jerome, a 28-year-old- African American male, displays symptoms of a personality disorder resulting from his different behavior and thought patterns. Jerome exaggerates and is deceptive in telling others he is a rapper and model, when in fact he is not.  He goes to extreme lengths by advertising his false “businesses” on cards when he has never recorded a song or held a modeling job.  He usually is fired from his entry level jobs due to his inability to show up to work based on his false claims he has “modeling gigs or recording”.  He spends his free time at the gym and in nightclubs, has failed to maintain relationships due to confrontation and lack of willingness to admit the truth about himself, is self-absorbed to the point of abuse when he is “not the focus of conversation”, and has faced several arrests due to his erratic behavior at nightclubs or in situations where he faces negative criticism or attention. 

A personality disorder is often difficult to treat because often an individual like Jerome may not seek treatment and may not even realize they have anything wrong with them.  Most often the individual places blame on those around them instead of accepting they are the ones with a problem.  (Argosy University , 2018) Jerome’s symptoms align closely with the mental illness known as narcissistic personality disorder classified in Cluster B of the DSM-5.  The classification is based on the dramatic, emotional, and erratic symptoms he is displaying rather than being paranoid (Cluster A) or anxious and fearful (Cluster C).  (Argosy University , 2018) Narcissistic personality disorder is defined as, “having an exaggerated sense of self-importance, absorbed by fantasies of unlimited success, and seek constant attention. The narcissistic personality is oversensitive to failure and often complains of multiple somatic symptoms. Prone to extreme mood swings between self-admiration and insecurity, these people tend to exploit interpersonal relationships.”  (Health, 2018) Jerome’s lack of treatment and acknowledgement of his disorder is causing a negative pattern of behaviors affecting his work, relationships, and criminal reputation.  Narcissistic personality disorder affects men more than women, creating a higher risk factor for Jerome.  (Health, 2018) Also, although Jerome’s history is unknown to the case, environmental and genetic factors could certainly have contributed to the development of his disorder.  The typical age for someone to develop this disorder is late teens to early adulthood; therefore, given that Jerome is 28 years old and has not sought out treatment, his abnormal patterns of behavior and thoughts could have been going on for several years developing complicated factors that will continue to affect his daily life. 

References

Argosy University . (2018). Module 4 Lecture Notes. Retrieved from Argosy University Online: https://myclasses.argosy.edu/d2l/le/content/22644/viewContent/1045177/View

Health, U. N. (2018). Personality Disorders. Retrieved from MedLine Plus: https://medlineplus.gov/personalitydisorders.html