When and how do personality disorders develop?
When and how do personality disorders develop?
Overview
It’s not clear what causes personality disorders.
They usually emerge in teenage years and continue into adulthood. They may be mild, moderate or severe. People may have periods of “remission” where they function well.
A mixture of factors can make someone more likely to develop a personality disorder.
Most professionals agree that the most helpful approach to understanding the development of personality disorder is the bio-psychosocial model. This is based on the idea that three types of factors interact to give rise to personality disorder:
- Biological vulnerabilities
- Early childhood experiences with ‘important others’
- Broader social and environmental factors
Biological vulnerabilities
Various studies have shown that the structure of the brain may influence the development of a personality disorder. Researchers are beginning to identify some possible genetic factors behind personality disorders and exploring genetic links to certain traits such as aggression, anxiety and fear — traits that can play a role in personality disorders.
Researchers have identified subtle brain differences in people with certain personality disorders. For example, findings in studies on paranoid personality disorder point to altered amygdala functioning. The amygdala is the part of your brain that’s involved with processing fearful and threatening stimuli.
Early childhood experiences with “important others”
In order to manage the devastating impact of early childhood experiences that traumatise children and cause ACEs, patterns develop as a response to help the child cope. These patterns, if not managed and supported, persist into latter years giving the person low levels of tolerance to stressful environments, and leaving them easily overwhelmed by feelings they cannot tolerate. This triggers patterns of behaviour which are seen as impulsive and self destructive. As they develop into adulthood, these behaviours can make it hard for them to maintain successful relationships with others, and can feel to others as inflexible, intense and unhelpful
Broader social and environmental factors
Living in an unstable or chaotic environment as a child can increase a person’s risk of developing personality disorder. This can include growing up in poverty, experiencing frequent disruptions in living situations, or being exposed to violence or other traumatic events. Environmental factors can impact a person’s sense of stability and security, and can contribute to feelings of fear, anger, and helplessness that can create a path towards personality disorder.
