Dependent Personality Disorder Essay - 1184 Words

A Psychological Aspect of Susan Smith: Dependent Personality Disorder nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;On October 25, 1994, Susan Smith drowned her two sons, Michael and Alex, in the John D. Long Lake in Union County, South Carolina. For nine days she lied about knowing where the boys were. On November 3, she confessed to the killings and would soon go to trial. Susan’s defense team hired a psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation of her. She was diagnosed as having dependent personality disorder. He described her as a person who â€Å"feels she can’t do anything on her own†. â€Å"She constantly needs affection and becomes terrified that she’ll be left alone† She was only depressed when she was alone. The psychiatrist studied her family†¦show more content†¦The relationships of individuals with dependent disorder are usually unbalanced. They tend to seek all-powerful helpers, or people they believe can protect them from feelings of loneliness. They may jump from relationship to relationship to avoid being alone. People with this disorder do not trust their own ability to make decisions, and feel that others have better ideas. They may be devastated by separation and loss, and they may go to great lengths, even suffering abuse, to stay in a relationship (Gillihan). An individual may be diag nosed with dependent personality disorder if they meet five or more of the following criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM-IV): 1) Difficulty in making everyday decisions without excessive advice and reassurance 2) Needs others to assume responsibility for major areas of his/her life 3) Difficulty expressing disagreement with others and unrealistically fears loss of support or approval if he disagrees 4) Difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his/her own, due to lack of confidence in judgment or abilities 5) Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant 6) Uncomfortable or helpless when alone due to exaggerated fears of being unable to care for him/herself 7) Urgently seeks another source of care and support when a close relationship ends 8) Unrealistically preoccupied with fearsShow MoreRelatedDependent Personality Disorder ( Disney )1948 Words   |  8 Pagesaware of such extreme forms of dependency. Dependent Personality Disorder is the diagnosis of this extreme dependency. Individuals with this disorder can be seen as â€Å"clingy† or â€Å"needy†. The fear of being alone and the need of assurance plague individuals with this disorder. Due to lack of individual initiative advances individuals with this disorder may not prevail in the workplace or educational settings. This paper details dependent personality disorder, its historical roots, symptoms and treatmentsRead MoreDependent Personality Disorder ( Dpd )1169 Words   |  5 Pagesto have someone they can lean on? But what happens when we become overly dependent on someone. When all of our decisions need to be fully backed, supported, and reassured by others? What happens when we literally can’t be alone and are helpless and fearful without someone by our sides? Well, these symptoms could show evidence of Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD). DPD is a commonly diagnosed cluster C personality disorder in which ones dependence on others becomes impairing to their everyday lifeRead MoreDependent Personality Disorder ( Dpd )1265 Words   |  6 PagesI. Dependent Personality Disorder: Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) according to the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) is categorized under cluster C in personality disorders exhibiting traits of anxiety and fearfulness. Criteria specifies that an individual demonstrates significant deviation in behavior and life experience according to a person’s cultural norms in at least two of the following areas: impulse controlRead MoreDependent Personality Disorder : A Separate Peace2447 Words   |  10 PagesDependent personality disorder, commonly referred to as DPD, has been formally diagnosed in approximately 2.5% of the population of the United States (Faith). 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As you read this paper, IRead MoreNarcissistic, Antisocial, And Dependent Personality Disorders1535 Words   |  7 PagesDiscuss narcissistic, antisocial, and dependent personality disorders. Someone with narcissistic personality disorder would show an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with being admired, and a lack of empathy for the feelings of others (Hooley, p.349). Many studies support the fact that narcissism has two sub types: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism (cain et al.,2008; Ronningstam, 2005, 2012). The grandiose sub-type is manifested by traits related to grandiosity, aggressionRead MoreDependent Personality Disorder1220 Words   |  5 PagesPsychological Aspect of Susan Smith: Dependent Personality Disorder On October 25, 1994, Susan Smith drowned her two sons, Michael and Alex, in the John D. Long Lake in Union County, South Carolina. For nine days she lied about knowing where the boys were. On November 3, she confessed to the killings and would soon go to trial. Susans defense team hired a psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation of her. She was diagnosed as having dependent personality disorder. He described her as a personRead MoreThe Effects Of Gender And Sex Role Orientation On Attitudes Toward Dependent Personality Disorder2700 Words   |  11 PagesOrientation on Attitudes Toward Dependent Personality Disorder Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is characterized by a passive need for reassurance, direction, and support. Those with DPD typically view themselves as helpless and weak and others as competent and strong (Disney, 2013). According to the American Psychological Association (APA, 2013), DPD is one of the most commonly diagnosed personality disorders. However, compared to other personality disorders, there has been little researchRead MoreA Psychoanalysis of Edward Gein Essay1266 Words   |  6 Pageslived alone with his mother until her death after suffering from numerous strokes. Her death devastated him she was his only friend and companion. Even after a lifetime of mental and physical abuse he loved her I believe he developed a Dependent Personality Disorder with his mother because he never separated from her. Once considered maybe a little odd not Gein started to show multiple escalated behaviors that were and still to this day are considered some of the most abnormal e ver witnessed. NowRead MoreThe Millon Clinical Multiaxial IIi875 Words   |  4 PagesThe Millon Clinical Multiaxial III (MCMI-III) is a frequently used self-report personality inventory (Magalhaes, Magalhaes, Noblitt, and Lewis, 2012). Millon theorized that certain personality prototypes are directly related to certain disorders. This test takes approximately 25 minutes to complete (Choca, Widiger, 2001). This version does include an optional Correctional Report to be used with the inmate population. The MCMI-III is used to evaluate individuals for interpersonal, emotional, or