Personality disorders are often not apparent to others, and many people with these problems seem to live basically normal lives without being a threat to others. if these people can function well in society, why should they be considered psychologically disordered?

this is for psych 200 answer with detail! !

Explanation:

Personality is a relatively stable and enduring characteristic of cognitive, behavioural and emotional traits.

During a lifetime, a person will interact with others in a reasonably predictable way. Personality changes with experience, maturity and external factors in a way that it stimulates adaptation to the environment. Personality is affected by genetic and psychosocial factors.

A personality disorder is an extreme set of characteristics that is far beyond the range found in most people. It is defined as  an enduring pattern of inner experiences and behaviour that deviates from the expectations of the individual's culture. A personality disorder is pervasive, inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood. It is stable over time and leads to distress or impairment of functioning. It cannot be diagnosed before the age of 18 years of age.

The most important etiologic factors are biological, social and psychological factors.

The classical types of personality disorder are as follows: 1. schizoid personality disorder; 2. paranoid personality disorder; 3.antisocial personality disorder; 4. histrionic personality disorder; 5.obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

In schizoid personality disorder, the main character is to do things alone or to socially withdraw. There are restricted emotions, humourless, distant, cold, sensitive to the feeling of rejection, deficient motivation and the lack of interest and hobbies. There is no relation between schizoid personality disorder and schizophrenia.  

In paranoid personality disorder, there is the feelings are overexpressed, the blame is externalized for his/her difficulties, the feeling of insecurity, the overestimation of minor events. The individual has high suspicion in others, cannot relax, has little or no sense of humour,  envious and pathologically jealous The individual is critical to others, has major problems with authority figures and anger and hostility are the main affects.  

In antisocial personality disorder, there is usually an onset during childhood, prior to the age of 18. There is constant lack o conformity to major social and religious rules, promiscuity, poor impulse control and avoidance of responsibility for actions. The individual is abusive, manipulative to others and often abuses certain substances. The individual requires constant stimulation and has a lack of care for the feelings of others.

In histrionic personality disorder, the prevalence is higher in the female population. There is immature personality, emotionally unstable and tendency to emotionally overreact. The individual acts constantly to be in the centre of attraction. There is a dramatization of situations and emotions. The individual is sexually provocative, seductive, egocentric and highly suggestible and dependent.

In obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, there is over-concern with details. The individual is perfectionist, over conscientious, rigid and inflexible. The individuals are humourless with lack of spontaneity.

The majority of these disorders are diagnosed during the treatment and /or family complains of them.