"A personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible. It has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time and leads to distress or impairment" (APA, 2013). Researchers have classified personality disorders into three different clusters based on their similarities. Cluster A comprises of paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders and individuals who express these are said to behave in an odd or eccentric manner. Cluster B involves antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders and persons with these disorders are seen to act in a dramatic, emotional and erratic style. Lastly, Cluster C entails avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Individuals that demonstrate these types of disorder are identified to carry themselves in an anxious and fearful way. .
Personality disorders affect between ten to fifteen percent of the population. However, this varies within different cultures; one culture will not be exactly the same for another, and some cultures will have a higher percentage of their population with an active personality disorder. Most studies have suggested that personality disorders are down to the genetic basis, and are passed down through generations. For the purpose of this essay, the subject was given the name 'Sarah'. Sarah seems to be showing signs of having 1 or more characteristics of numerous personality disorders. These are paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal from cluster A, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic from cluster B and only avoidant from cluster C. .
many features of avoidant personality disorder such as she is often alone as she feels inadequate, she does not express much desire to join in, and this could be because of her social inhibition.