The way that a person is brought up will have a huge impact on their personality. For some people, this is good, whereas for others, this can be bad.
There are no known causes of a Personality Disorder. Instead, it is believed that a range of factors may contribute to a disorder developing.
Past research has looked into parenting styles and how they can seemingly increase the risk of certain personality disorders developing – as will be discussed here [1].
What is a Personality Disorder?
Personality Disorder: A Personality Disorder is a condition which involves an individual thinking, behaving, feeling or relating in a very different way from the average person. There are ten different personality disorders, split into three clusters. The clusters are “odd and eccentric”, “dramatic, emotional and erratic’” and “anxious and fearful”. The different disorders vary considerably, and thus the symptoms of each differ too. Those with a personality disorder may find their symptoms cause them distress, and results in them not living their life how they want to.
The Research
The research was carried out by a team from Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry. Their findings were published back in 2006 in JAMA Psychiatry [1].
The team wanted to see if low affection and harsh behaviour from parents towards their children increased the risk of personality disorders developing.
The researchers defined “low affection” as a lack of affection, a lack of time spent with the child, poor communication, low educational aspirations, a lack of supervision, and poor paternal role fulfilment [1].
Meanwhile, the researchers defined “harsh parenting” as involving harsh punishment, inconsistent enforcement of rules, loud parental arguments, poor anger management towards a child, use of guilt as a way of controlling a child, and verbal abuse [1].
What does low parental affection increase the chances of?
The researchers found that low parental affection had a marked impact. Moreover, it increased the risk of 6 of the 10 types of personality disorders from developing.
These included all three Cluster A disorders – Paranoid Personality Disorder, Schizoid Personality Disorder, and Schizotypal Personality Disorder [1].
Moreover, low parental affection also increased the risk of Borderline Personality Disorder developing [1]. This is one of the best-known personality disorders.
The researchers also found that the risk of developing Antisocial Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder were also increased through low parental affection [1].
Therefore, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder were not deemed to be associated with a higher risk of onset from low parental affection [1].
What does harsh parenting increase the chances of?
Meanwhile, harsh parenting was associated with increasing the risk of just three personality disorders – three fewer than low parental affection.
Paranoid Personality Disorder and Schizotypal Personality Disorder were both associated with an increased risk of development from harsh parenting [1].
The researchers also found that the risk of an individual developing Borderline Personality Disorder was also increased due to harsh parenting [1].
Therefore, Schizoid Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder were not associated with a higher risk of development due to harsh parenting [1].
Summary
Clearly, parenting styles can have a big impact. As seen in many cases above, low parental affection and harsh parenting can increase the risk of personality disorders developing.
It is important to state that this research doesn’t state that personality disorders are a clear consequence of these parenting styles. Instead – it just increases the risk.
Seeking treatment for personality disorders is very important. Regardless of potential causes, getting better is the main thing!
See Also
- Personality Disorders Homepage
- Which Gender is More Likely to Develop Each Personality Disorder?
- How Can Personality Disorders Be Treated?
- What Causes Personality Disorders?
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References
[1] Johnson, J., Cohen, P., & Henian, C. (2006). Parenting Behaviors Associated With Risk for Offspring Personality Disorder During Adulthood. JAMA Psychiatry. 63 (5): p579-587. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.5.579.
