Half You But Never Half Me

I was wondering how would I would go about writing a character with SzPD? I’ve looked and there doesn’t seem to much information beyond the symptoms, but I want to write something more complex than that. What should I avoid, and what should I write instead?

How would you all like to see SzPD represented in media?

I don't speak for every schizoid and I'm comorbid with quite a few other things that might impact my perception of SzPD, so feel free to add on to this.

I completely agree with this person.

Not every schizoid is the same, also. For example, I am aromantic-asexual and aplatonic. But I am capable of developing familial emotions for people after a (considerable) amount of time. Some schizoids may differ, such as being capable of platonic but not the others, or some other nuanced scenario.

Some schizoids simply are just as asocial as the stereotypes, but that doesn't mean they're devoid of any feeling or interest. The "lack of emotion" or "mechanical behaviors" commonly stereotyped with schizoids is generally due to emotional dissociation--its a defensive mechanism formed from trauma.

As for another take on the interests, while it is true that many schizoids lack hobbies completely, that's not always the case. For example, I have always had an interest in writing since a very young age. Most of my other interests can either be incredibly short lived/fleeting, or permanently etched into my internal phantasy world. But also, I have pretty bad writers block problems.

Many schizoids have friends, even if they're aplatonic or do not desire closeness. Not all, but enough. It would also be a good idea to be familiar with our terms and coined terminology. For example, a "safety person," "interest person," and "stock person" are common schizoids terms used on tumblr and maybe other places (I wouldnt know, I dont have other social media). Not everyone uses them, but they can provide context on how we see relationships.

I heavily agree on the /schizoidvision blog, I am not familiar with the other one, and I'm going to go ahead and suggest /schizoid-hikikomori. I also suggest reading /schizoid-hikikomori's pinned essay that he wrote (though, be warned, his blog occasionally contains graphic imagery) along with the books he references in the essay.

(Note: replace the / with an @)

"The Divided Self" by RD Laing is a very popular and commonly referenced book written by a psychologist that explains schizoid personality. A personal recommendation is "The Empty Core" by Jeffery Seinfeld.

It is also important to note that schizoid personality is inherently the severation between the external and internal world. So whilst schizoids may be heavily disconnected from the external world through dissociation, it is commonly observed by psychologists that we have a rich inner world with a highly active imagination. We may not desire external relationships, but many of us do phantasize about fake ones in our own minds.

Why? Because self-control and autonomy are extremely important to us. Schizoids tend to especially avoid relationships that make us feel like we lack either or both. Oh, and as an off handed comment, I notice we get irritated easily (judging by schizoid vents that I read).

It would also be a good idea to look at the differences between covert SZPD and overt. Personally, I'm covert, so I am really good at masking and mimicry. Overts may have a more difficult time and are more susceptible to the "flat affect."

As final advice... just find schizoid blogs and look at their thoughts and what they're interested in, and how they view things along with their online behavior. I know one schizoid with a bug hyperfixation, one dude is super into philosophy, and another with a peculiar hyperfixation on Mario. Then there's me, the loser that likes Genshin Impact.

We're not too hard to find if you look in the right places. Oh, and if you want to see external behaviors, you could probably find youtube channels of schizoids talking about their experiences. They're difficult to find, but I promise you, they're there.

Schizoid Education on youtube (edit: that is @ schizoidvision here lol, I didn't realize) talks heavily about Object Relations Theory, which is a psychological theory abt how we humans develop a sense of self in infancy. Relevant to how personality disorders form too.

Admittedly I only lightly skim that stuff and don't really study the psych material on our disorder, but from my impression so far It's especially helpful with understanding the nuance to what traumas cause ur brain to go for a schizoid adaptation over anything else. Because some schizoids may still tell you they never experienced a major trauma in their childhood or young adult years, and that they were just born this way. Kind of true, because the core wound can occur from simply failing to properly attach to your mother as an infant. Allegedly. Not an expert.

But in general I think a widely overarching theme of schizoid traumas is focused on "I cant rely on anyone (to meet my needs)" and not exactly "other people are dangerous." For example, the difference in adaptations between a schizoid and maybe a borderline, when dealing with an unpredictable parent- the schizoid learns to detach to prevent being hurt (emotionally or otherwise), while the borderline survival tactic is shifting completely to keep up with the parent's changing moods. When you simply stop caring, and things do not matter to you, how could another person hurt your feelings? Although, in my experience, this also makes us terrible at setting any boundaries or voicing opinions. We'd rather avoid conflict by never starting any at all, and just leaving if someone steps over an invisible line instead of arguing.

But obviously, write your character with whatever traumas you very well please lol. It may be interesting to explore how they process other things, because emotional disconnect/dissociation can have you thinking "I dont care about that, its just life, im not sad" and confused asf when you ever end up crying. Your body has some feeling, but your brain isn't very interested in actually.. experiencing it?

Obligatory apology if anything i've written is inaccurate or overly generalizing. Everypony is different and PDs are just handy frameworks for pointing out similar ways that we think and behave, not ultimate determinations on how someone will act in their own unique situation.

Schizoid Angst is another youtuber who talks extensively abt the disorder. He's probably the most well known? Maybe im just algorithm biased in saying that. But anyway, he gives a lot of personal experiences as well as Q&As, interviews, stuff like that, it's just a lot longer form content that can take a while to sit through.

To me, it comes down to a lack of safety.

If you are shown, repeatedly, that having needs is unsafe, it's too much, it's unreasonable. That being open with others is just showing your stomach to a bloodthirsty wolf. That others knowing you, and knowing about you, weights you down, suffocates you.

2. The Delectable Negro: Human Consumption and Homoeroticism Within US Slave Culture by Vincent Woodard

3. "Abolitionists turned the tables on Europeans by accusing them of being cannibals when they ate sugar tainted with the flesh and blood of slaves."

here's the intro