As noted, many of the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders fall within our society’s stereotypes for men and women. Chapter 9 discusses many personality disorders that are associated with gender differences. Many of the symptoms of personality disorder demonstrate how one person might act on a daily bases but are not necessarily diagnosed with that specific disorder. For example, in society women demonstrate many characteristics, such as the shifting of emotions, different mood swings, or an importance of their physical appearance. Women tend to demonstrate these qualities all the time but it does not fundamentally mean they have a personality disorder. As mentioned in chapter 9, histrionic personality disorder shares features with borderline personality disorder, including rapidly shifting of emotions and intense unstable relationships. People with this disorder usually always want to be the center of attention and they tend to be highly dramatic and overtly seductive. When someone hears the symptoms of histrionic personality disorder, people just might think that a typical woman is being described, which is basically a stereotypical woman trait. On the other hand, men also demonstrate certain stereotypical traits of personality disorder. Men are more likely to be tough, have more of an urge of violence than women, or show little emotion in interpersonal relationships. These are typical stereotypical traits people view men in society, but once again it is possible that men who demonstrate some of these traits do not have a personality disorder. Schizoid personality disorders describe the lack of desire to form interpersonal relationships and are emotionally cold in their interactions with others. People in society view men, as not being very emotional with their feelings compared to women.
I believe society is over-diagnosing by applying these traits to gender specific behavior. We are basing gender stereotypes to provoke diagnosing personality disorders. Health care providers are diagnosing men and women with a personality disorder based on certain gender stereotypical traits. People need to be a lot more aware and informed when to diagnose a personality disorder in men and women. We should take into account the fact that each gender may posses’ different traits and characteristics. Society is promoting disorders by encouraging gender stereotypes in our culture but that all can be changed if people consider addressing the issue to reduce the pathology involved in disorders. Such as really understanding each patient, by looking at their daily behaviors, their personality, their emotions, or their common thought process. Clinicians should test and research on a patient and look at their personal life before actually diagnosing them. Health providers should also just observe a patients signs and symptoms, and consider their actual genetic make up before determining if they have a personality disorder, gender should not be the main focus to influence the outcome.