#hpd resource

[PT: Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD): Symptoms and Characteristics /End PT]

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is a Cluster B personality disorder, meaning it is characterised by dramatic and/or erratic behaviour. In this case, the pwHPD behaves in such dramatic and/or erratic ways to become the centre of attention due to a lack of feeling acknowledged by others, and perhaps a feeling that they (the pwHPD) do not belong.

Symptoms of HPD include:

feeling underappreciated or depressed when not the centre of attention

having rapidly shifting and shallow emotions

being dramatic and extremely emotionally expressive, even to the point of embarrassing friends and family in public

having a “larger than life” presence

being persistently charming and flirtatious

being overly concerned with their physical appearance

using their physical appearance to draw attention to themselves by wearing bright-colored clothing or revealing clothing

acting inappropriately sexually with most of the people they meet, even when they’re not sexually attracted to them

speaking dramatically and expressing strong opinions, but with few facts or details to support their opinions

being gullible and easily influenced by others, especially by the people they admire

thinking that their relationships with others are closer than they usually are

having difficulty maintaining relationships, often seeming fake or shallow in their interactions with others

needing instant gratification and becoming bored or frustrated very easily

constantly seeking reassurance or approval

While HPD and NPD are similar in their need for attention, it comes from two different places. A pwNPD has a need for attention that is tied to supporting their sense of self-worth and superiority, while a pwHPD's need for attention is more tied to feeling like part of a group - feeling real and acknowledged. It's more a form of emotional regulation than it is of regulation of self-worth in NPD.

As with the other PDs, a leading factor contributing to the development of HPD is genetics and abuse in childhood. Unstable and/or unhealthy parenting styles may also contribute to development, such as a parent displaying overly sexual or erratic behaviour; a child may internalise this and have it develop into HPD in the future.

[PT: Millon's Subtypes of Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) /End PT]

Theodore Millon [link] proposed 6 subtypes of HPD in 2000. Below are screenshots of their descriptions in a table on this Wikipedia page on HPD [link] and slightly simplified explanations of them:

The appeasing histrionic [PT: appeasing histrionic /End PT] has dependent and compulsive features in addition to their histrionic ones. An appeasing histrionic may feel compelled go out of their way to appease others, as the name suggests, and moderate tense situations. The table reads as follows:

"[An appeasing histrionic] Seeks to placate, mend, patch up, smooth over troubles; knack for settling differences, moderating tempers by yielding, compromising, conceding; sacrifices self for commendation; fruitlessly placates the unplacatable."

A pwHPD has a need for attention and to be accepted/approved by others. Therefore, perhaps the appeasing histrionic seeks to gain others' approval by acting as a mediator, one others can rely on to settle disputes and help with problems, thus making themselves important and thereby approved by others.

A vivacious histrionic [PT: vivacious histrionic /End PT] is someone who possesses hypomanic, and possibly narcissistic, features. Hypomanic features include being restless and engaging in risky and/or reckless behaviour. This means that a pwHPD who has the vivacious subtype may behave recklessly or extremely energetically to be acknowledged and attended to by others. The table explains this as such:

"Vigorous, charming, bubbly, brisk, spirited, flippant, impulsive; seeks momentary cheerfulness and playful adventures; animated, energetic, ebullient."

A tempestuous histrionic [PT: tempestuous histrionic /End PT] has negativistic features. "Tempestuous" means "characterized by strong, turbulent, or conflicting emotions", which falls in line with the description in the table:

"Impulsive, out of control; moody complaints, sulking; precipitous emotion, stormy, impassioned, easily wrought-up, periodically inflamed, turbulent."

This, combined with negativistic features, makes the pwHPD's mood more turbulent and unstable. It may mean they are more likely to do dramatic things to get attention and have people be around and stay with them. The dramatic things they do may also be quite drastic and sudden, and they may also retreat more easily due to mood swings.

A disingenuous histrionic [disingenuous histrionic /End PT] has antisocial features and may be more prone to lying to get sympathy and attention. They may be highly egocentric and very often seek to be in the spotlight, even at the expense of others. They may manipulate others by being overly charming or any other dramatised trait, thus earning them attention. Adding a little to this, the table reads:

"Underhanded, double-dealing, scheming, contriving, plotting, crafty, false-hearted; egocentric, insincere, deceitful, calculating, guileful."

Now, a theatrical histrionic [PT: theatrical histrionic /End PT] is, as stated in the table, a "variant of [the] 'pure' pattern", meaning that it is a variant of the "usual" histrionic. The description in the table explains a theatrical histrionic as such:

"Affected, mannered, put-on; postures are striking, eyecatching, graphic; markets self-appearance; is synthesized, stagy; simulates desirable/dramatic poses."

Essentially, one could say that a theatrical histrionic is a more "dramatic" version of the usual histrionic; they "put on a show", so to speak, to gain attention from others, as though on stage for others to see.

Lastly, an infantile histrionic [PT: infantile histrionic /End PT] has borderline features. This means that they are more prone to becoming excessively attached to someone, and also that they are more prone to "volatile emotions", i.e. emotional outbursts and the like. The table expands on this as follows:

"Labile, high-strung, volatile emotions; childlike hysteria and nascent pouting; demanding, overwrought; fastens and clutches to another; is excessively attached, hangs on, stays fused to and clinging."