Question

Can personality disorders be advantageous to a person or vocation? For example, could narcissistic personality be an advantage for a beauty pageant contestant? Could an antisocial personality be helpful to a prizefighter or a professional hokey player? Why or why not? Please give examples in your answers.

Answer 1

Personality disorders can be advantageous for a person in a very short span or in a limited scenario. For instance, an aggressive active role- people who are anti-social might clear the movie audition. Some sense of narcissistic personality helps in becoming leaders.

In the larger perspective or generally- personality disorders will create disruptions in normal life. People have a difficult time in dealing with different people and their behaviors would be considered maladaptive. These behaviors occur in the extreme form where the result is not positive. Antisocial personality individuals will inflict harm on others and might end up in prisons. Narcissistic is so self-obsessed that they are not able to think about others. Shizotypical and avoidant personality disorder individuals have a tough time in dealing with people and social situations. This can be understood in various examples

• John is diagnosed with an avoidant personality disorder. He does not go to parties and avoids public places. He is unemployed for a long period of time as he can't make social contact or even give an interview.
• Sara is diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. Her interpersonal relationship with her boyfriend is very extreme. sometimes she loves so much and sometimes she hates so much.
• Max is showing inappropriate sexual gestures in the classroom to seek attention. A psychiatrist say that he is diagnosed with a histrionic personality disorder.