Relationships have challenges for any couple.
With enough dedication, commitment and effort, most can become fulfilling, supportive, and successful.
However, if one partner is afflicted with a personality disorder, all the effort on the part of the non-disordered partner will likely go to waste.
Unfortunately, there is a segment of the population that is mentally "hard wired" in such a way that the normal, connected, give and take kind of relationship is not possible.
If you are involved with someone with a personality disorder such as narcissism or sociopathy/psychopathy, it is likely you are often confused, hurt, and bewildered by your partner's destructive actions.
Though only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose a personality disorder, it is helpful to know some signs to look for.
Here are 9 signs your partner may have a personality disorder: 1.
Lack of empathy.
Your partner may have difficulty putting him or herself into another person's shoes.
This makes your partner's actions self serving and callous.
2.
Lack of remorse or guilt.
Your partner may be sorry to get caught, but underneath the crocodile tears there is a lack of emotional depth and genuine conscience.
In fact, your partner may even feel as if the victims of his or her hurtful actions deserved what they got because they were "weak" or "set themselves up" to be taken advantage of.
3.
Displays consistent lack of responsibility.
Your partner may not be able to hold a steady job easily or pay bills on time.
He or she may not honor commitments in general, including marital.
4.
Grandiose sense of self worth.
Your partner may exaggerate accomplishments and desire and expect excessive amounts or admiration.
He or she may have a strong sense of entitlement, and expect preferential treatment.
He or she may also have a haughty attitude toward others and sense of superiority.
5.
Poor behavioral and impulse control.
You partner may bore easily and engage in risky behaviors.
He or she may also be unlikely to delay gratification, leading to a greater likelihood of drug and alcohol addiction and sexual compulsiveness, including affairs.
6.
Lack of adherence to social norms and greater likelihood for criminal behavior.
Your partner may feel as if the rules of everyday society don't really apply to him or her as they do for others.
Your partner may be more likely to engage in criminal behavior, including violent crime.
7.
Compulsive lying, manipulation, and conning.
Your partner may lie about anything and everything, or specifically to keep you as a useful tool for your partner's usage.
Your partner may use superficial charm and charisma to get what he or she wants out of others.
8.
Idealized and black and white thinking.
Your partner may focus on ideal love, beauty and power.
You may be put on a pedestal as long as you are useful and offer praise, but can easily be demoted to worthless and discardable.
9.
Willing to exploit others to get what he or she wants, regardless of the consequences to the exploited parties.
With enough dedication, commitment and effort, most can become fulfilling, supportive, and successful.
However, if one partner is afflicted with a personality disorder, all the effort on the part of the non-disordered partner will likely go to waste.
Unfortunately, there is a segment of the population that is mentally "hard wired" in such a way that the normal, connected, give and take kind of relationship is not possible.
If you are involved with someone with a personality disorder such as narcissism or sociopathy/psychopathy, it is likely you are often confused, hurt, and bewildered by your partner's destructive actions.
Though only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose a personality disorder, it is helpful to know some signs to look for.
Here are 9 signs your partner may have a personality disorder: 1.
Lack of empathy.
Your partner may have difficulty putting him or herself into another person's shoes.
This makes your partner's actions self serving and callous.
2.
Lack of remorse or guilt.
Your partner may be sorry to get caught, but underneath the crocodile tears there is a lack of emotional depth and genuine conscience.
In fact, your partner may even feel as if the victims of his or her hurtful actions deserved what they got because they were "weak" or "set themselves up" to be taken advantage of.
3.
Displays consistent lack of responsibility.
Your partner may not be able to hold a steady job easily or pay bills on time.
He or she may not honor commitments in general, including marital.
4.
Grandiose sense of self worth.
Your partner may exaggerate accomplishments and desire and expect excessive amounts or admiration.
He or she may have a strong sense of entitlement, and expect preferential treatment.
He or she may also have a haughty attitude toward others and sense of superiority.
5.
Poor behavioral and impulse control.
You partner may bore easily and engage in risky behaviors.
He or she may also be unlikely to delay gratification, leading to a greater likelihood of drug and alcohol addiction and sexual compulsiveness, including affairs.
6.
Lack of adherence to social norms and greater likelihood for criminal behavior.
Your partner may feel as if the rules of everyday society don't really apply to him or her as they do for others.
Your partner may be more likely to engage in criminal behavior, including violent crime.
7.
Compulsive lying, manipulation, and conning.
Your partner may lie about anything and everything, or specifically to keep you as a useful tool for your partner's usage.
Your partner may use superficial charm and charisma to get what he or she wants out of others.
8.
Idealized and black and white thinking.
Your partner may focus on ideal love, beauty and power.
You may be put on a pedestal as long as you are useful and offer praise, but can easily be demoted to worthless and discardable.
9.
Willing to exploit others to get what he or she wants, regardless of the consequences to the exploited parties.