"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
-Helen Keller

I'm not sure where to start. I don't know why I'm "breaking the silence." Part of me wants to be recognized as a survivor, and a part of me needs to tell the story just to survive. Ultimately, I want other women to know. I want other women who've lived it to know they are not alone.

My nightmare began when I was five. I had a cousin who made his "rounds" with my cousin, my sister and myself. My most vivid memory is in my grandmother's apartment. Grandma had a room just doors from her bedroom. It was used for guests and odds/ends. Clark (I have no qualms about giving out names) had been fondling me for sometime at this point, but usually he did it on the staircase when you entered the building. I remember he did it while he was talking to other people. He'd stop me as I was going to my apartment on the second floor, put his hand up my skirt and into my panty. His hand would move around, but not really doing much because I tried to keep my legs tightly shut. I remember he did it while he was talking to someone one afternoon.

Anyway, one afternoon he told me to go to my grandmother's guest room. I did. Clark had me lay on the guest bed and parted my legs. I honestly don't remember what he did. I think he spoke to me. Mostly I looked up at the ceiling and at the door. I don't remember what I was thinking until my aunt opened the door and peeked in. I was relieved. I knew it would have to stop now that he was caught. Clark didn't hear my aunt enter the room, and she shut the door behind her - not saying a word. I forgave her immediately thinking that she didn't want to interrupt him, but later she'll maybe tell him he has to stop.

I don't remember anything after that. Just the hope I felt because someone else knew. That afternoon I waited for something to happen, but nothing did. Finally, I went to the kitchen after playing with my cousins, for a drink of water. My grandmother and the aunt who saw the incident were talking about me. As I entered the room, my grandmother asked me if Clark had been "touching" me. I happily answered "yes." I was ready for the roof to cave in because I hated it so. I knew this time that it wasn't my fault. I knew this time HE would be the one in trouble. But instead my aunt asked ME why I LET HIM DO THAT.

I was instructed to tell him the next time he does it to say "no". That was it. No one ever talked to Clark. My parents eventually moved and things were kept quiet until I was 15. Clark went on with his friends to molest and rape other members of the family, including my best friend. I think that that was when I started to feel that men would always overpower me. I believe that incident alone determined the fact that I was going to blame myself whenever I was taken advantage of.

I mean today I understand that a 5 year old could never have defended herself in such a situation, but when I was raped again at the age of 19 I brought the rapist a bouquet of flowers to apologize for fighting him off. It's weird. I'm 28 years old and just now starting to wake up. It's unbelievably painful.

-Ketty

Do I have a child sociopath? For a parent, noticing a pattern that a child is a sociopath can be heartbreaking and utterly terrifying. Officially, there's no such thing as a child sociopath because a child or adolescent can't be diagnosed as a sociopath. He or she is too young and his personality hasn't matured sufficiently to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, an adult personality disorder more commonly known as sociopathy. So while there are no sociopathic children, there can be sociopathic behavior in children.

Child Sociopath and Conduct Disorder

When children show sufficient and persistent sociopathic traits, characteristics and behaviors, they can be evaluated for conduct disorder (Symptoms of a Sociopath in Men, Women, Children). Conduct disorder can be a precursor to antisocial personality disorder in adulthood; indeed, all sociopathic adults had conduct disorder (whether or not it was officially diagnosed) as a child. It's noteworthy that not every child and teen who has conduct disorder will grow up to be a sociopath. Child sociopath characteristics often abate by adulthood.

The American Psychiatric Association (2013) discusses the clinical criteria for conduct disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the authority on mental disorders. Conduct disorder is described as "a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated..." The child or teen exhibits delinquent behavior, frequently severely so, in the following ways:

• Aggression to people and animals
• Destruction of property
• Deceitfulness or theft
• Serious violations of rules

Fire setting, cruelty to animals, and bedwetting (enuresis), together known as the MacDonald Triad, are behaviors that are connected to conduct disorder. Truancy, vandalism, violence, lying, cheating, running away, and early sexual behaviors are but some of the sociopathic behaviors committed by a child or adolescent with conduct disorder.

A Child "Sociopath" is Callous, Unemotional

The professional term frequently used to describe children who have conduct disorder (CD) is callous and unemotional (CU). Just as sociopathy is a group of traits and behaviors, so, too, is conduct disorder. Traits of a CD/CU child include:
 

• Disengaged, withdrawn from relationships with parents, family, peers, teachers, etc.
• Social isolation (a sociopathic child is a loner by choice)
• Limited affect/emotion other than impulsive anger
• Little or no attachment or bonding with anyone
• Unremorseful
• Intimidating
• Impervious to punishments, positive reinforcements, and negative reinforcements

Can Conduct Disorder Be Cured?

To date, there is no cure for conduct disorder. Because it involves traits and behaviors rather than illness, there is no medication to help. Professionals are working to develop effective treatments, but thus far there isn't a quick fix (Sociopath Treatment: Can A Sociopath Change?).

Researchers are discovering what definitely does not work for the child with sociopath characteristics. Behavioral approaches that target specific acts like bullying or stealing fall short because they minimize the big picture and they involve consequences, things that a CD/CU child cares nothing about. Sugar-coating or side-stepping the traits and total behavior of the child also doesn't work. Someone who does this attends to the elephant in the room while the child himself sneaks away undetected. The elephant grows ever closer while the child grows increasingly distant.

New treatment approaches are constantly being developed and tried. Nothing can cure conduct disorder, at least not yet. For now, though, some treatment approaches are at least marginally effective. Experts have discovered certain things.
 

• To have a chance at succeeding, an intervention must begin as soon as possible, ideally early in childhood (sociopathic behaviors in children sometimes begin at a very early age).
• Working with a child to develop prosocial behavior is more effective than working with him to stop antisocial behavior.
• It's not enough to work with only the CD/CU, sociopathic child; instead, the treatment must be multi-systemic and involve the family plus the social context in which problems occur.

Eighty percent of children with conduct disorder outgrow it by adulthood and never become sociopaths. Therefore, it's important for parents to not give up on the child "sociopath."

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"Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow."
-Swedish Proverb

My name is Ashley. I am 13. It is sad to know that at such a young age one can feel so violated. I had a lot going for me. I was a lead in a school play, 4.0 GPA, applicant to one of the best High Schools in the state. Still, none of this meant much to me after what had happened. At our school, I was voted the Drum Major for our Marching Band. The assistant Drum Major, Steven, had always been horny. We were good friends. We called each other almost everyday. I usually disregarded his sexual remarks. I thought they were funny...for awhile.

About a week before our TV debut at a parade, he came over to my house. We were supposed to talk about things for the parade, but we never did. Instead, he got me into a game of poker. We began to undress each other. I was doing all of this on my own, it felt. I was scared to go on, but also too scared to stop. Eventually, he got to the point where he dropped the cards. It was then he ordered me to perform oral sex on him. After I had done him that favor, he left. He came again, demanding it again twice. I did it both times, too afraid to stop or to tell him no.

After the third time, he never spoke to me again. Ever. I felt violated. I felt like a slut. He occasionally passed me a note or wrote me a letter saying I was a whore, a slut, and that I was no good. I didn't report it for fear he would turn the story around. After all, I had done it three times. I finally told my closest friend, who also happened to be Steven's closest friend. Matt, my friend, questioned Steven about the issue. Steven turned it around, saying I begged him for it. Matt then never spoke to me the same way again. He made me feel like a tramp.

I then turned to my best friend since forever, Matt Hall (A different Matt). He convinced me that it wasn't my fault and that I was raped. He understood and was the Band-Aid for my wounds. He understood me and was my shoulder to cry on. I loved him for that. I am now a few months older, a few months wiser. Steven still doesn't talk to me. He still calls me a whore. But I know it is not my fault. I know that he will get what he deserves in the future. I know that some people love me, despite my imperfections.

-Ashley

Schizoid personality disorder symptoms appear as persistent distorted thought patterns, inappropriate behavior, and impaired social functioning. One of the more rare personality disorders, schizoid personality disorder appears to affect men more often than women. Most experts agree that schizoid personality disorder symptoms first show up in late childhood or early adolescence,

Symptoms of Schizoid Personality Disorder

Individuals with symptoms of schizoid personality disorder exhibit most or all of the following traits:

• Dull and humorless
• Socially distant (cold) and aloof
• Avoid close relationships, even those with family
• Indifferent to both criticism and praise
• Difficulty relating to others in social situations
• Take little pleasure in activities involving others, including sex
• Choose solitary activities and careers
• Behave in ways that others see as odd or eccentric
• Frequent daydreaming, creating vivid fantasies involving complex inner life experiences

For example, people with schizoid personality disorder symptoms may rarely smile or even nod in agreement during a conversation. Most individuals with the condition can function fairly well, but choose careers that allow them to work alone and that require little or no interaction with others. (For example, check out this list of famous people with schizoid personality disorder.) Their aloof, emotionally void attitudes may cause hurt feelings and misunderstandings among family and friends. This outcome tends to reinforce the schizoid's belief that relationships are more trouble than they're worth and put an unacceptable limit on personal freedom.

Diagnosis of Schizoid Personality Disorder

Diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder is based on a full physical and psychological evaluation. To determine whether you have the condition or not, your medical doctor will conduct a full physical exam to rule out any underlying medical conditions. He or she will also ask about and record your personal and family medical history.

Afterward, your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further evaluation. This mental health professional will ask you a number of personal questions and conduct a thorough psychological evaluation. He or she may even ask you some hypothetical questions about how you might react in certain social situations and about any daydreams or fantasies you might have.

It's important to answer questions with absolute honesty, so your health care provider can properly assess and diagnose you. Once you receive a diagnosis, your psychiatrist can begin to develop a treatment plan to help you cope with the disorder and enjoy a more fulfilling life.

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"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When I was 6 years old my father came into my room in his underwear and molested me for the first time. This went on until I was 15. Only it got worse-and-worse. He started to watch me shower, constantly pushing me down , telling me how dirty I was. He'd eventually end up washing my body for me.

Then he started raping me anally for years until it progressed to vaginal rape. He would beat me so bad, I'd have bruises everywhere, sometimes sprained wrists and ankles and dislocated shoulders. The last time it happened, I had to be hospitalized. Thankfully, I was removed from my home. Thank God.

When I was 13, I was dating this heroin addict named Mike. He used to beat me. Then one day, it went further than that. He was moving away, so I was planning on giving him sex. However, I found out he was cheating on me. His friend John was over and Mike raped me and then John did the same.

When I was 15, I stupidly took a ride from a stranger and got raped. A few weeks ago, I took a ride from a friend and he asked to use my phone. I trusted him, so I said "yes". He beat me up and raped me. This time I'm prosecuting. I refuse to let him do this to others. I'm stronger now. So now he's in jail! :) I went to the hospital and got a rape kit and everything.

This happened not even a week after I got out of a residential treatment center for two years where I was being treated for self-mutilation, drug and alcohol abuse, and anorexia/bulimia. But, throughout this, I haven't cut, purged or picked up a drink or a drug. I can actually say I'm proud of myself. I'm staying strong! Although I still have nightmares and flashbacks, those are normal. Stay strong!!!!!!

-Crystal Lee

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear."
-Mark Twain

I will try to tell my story, the best I can. Much of it I know, and maybe will be too difficult to tell. Then, I believe there is still much of it that I do not yet know. So there will be some blank areas in this story. I wish it were not true, but it is. I also want to remind you and myself, as I begin to tell it, that I and YOU survived, and we CAN and WILL, together. Also, I reassure YOU and ME that we are not alone.

I suspect that my abuse began when I was about 6 or 7 months old. It was just me and my mother at that point. Then we were united with my dad. (We had been separated because of his work.) I suspect that he was jealous of the attention I got. It had been just my mother and I since I was born...and I wasn't 'in the way'...which was the case all of my growing up years, and even maybe until my dad's death a couple years ago.

My gut feeling, too, is that I was sexually abused at this age. I clearly remember being left alone, abandoned, when not quite 3 years old. I remember my terror, and whatever else a little one feels at that age. I was definitely confused. It was a punishment because I was not eating my dinner fast enough to suit them. Strange enough, I did not eat well. My mother even took me to the Dr. to see if something was wrong with my throat. I wonder why? I still have problems eating and swallowing, and even do some vomiting, when I remember what all was shoved into my mouth, that had no business being put there!

When I was left alone that night, I remember wondering 'didn't they love me?' I have had flashbacks of an time when my mother was sexually abusing me, looking at my dad, and laughing I was looking down on the bed, at ME, this little confused, hurt little girl. 'What were they doing to me?'

When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my dad disciplined me by taking me out into the dark night, holding my left hand in the front door, reaching in and locking the door, and slamming it shut on my hand. He ran, while I stood there and screamed. It only caught the tips of my fingers. But it did something far deeper to the heart of me. Eventually, my mother came to the door and let me in, never commenting on what had happened.

I also have many...TOO MANY to count...memories of beatings with the wire side of a wire hair brush, belts, branches off trees in our yard...that I had to go get myself. If the branches were not heavy enough, then I had to go out and get another one, or HE would go out and get one. So I would get the biggest one that I could find and get off the tree. Then I had to wait, and wait, until he decided to come out and use it on my bare skin.

I also remember the metal end of the razor strap...and the sound of it. I remember his left hand holding my left hand, to keep me from falling, when he was using it on me. I also maybe a 1 or 2 week wait, knowing he planned to use this on me. (This all is VERY hard to write). The beatings went on until I was 11 or 12 years old, when he started kissing me on the mouth. It was a yucky kiss that I hated and a display of affection that, way down deep in my little girl heart, I craved but did not like, because I knew it was fake. Finally I stopped that.

Since my youngest memories, I was told that I was not important, was ugly, fat, stupid, in every way that those things could be said. I was taught that what I thought and felt did not matter. I was taught that I had NO needs and NO feelings worth listening to. I was told that I was selfish, "stubborn and mad since the minute I was born." When I was hurt, I had to hide it. When I was sick, I had to stay in the back bedroom and could not come out. At mealtime, my mother would stick her head in the door and hand me a plate of food. She would not come near me. No comfort, no love. I was ...yuck...sick!

Then there were the times I was hit across the face and head, picked up and shaken, bouncing my head off the wall, as my dad shook me. Another favorite of his, was to slam my brother's head and my head together. I would see stars!

Then there were the socks filled with marbles, saved for trips in the car. The sock would come swinging back for my head. All of this discipline was "because I love you." "It hurts me worse than it does you." The ONLY time I was EVER held on my parent's lap was when my dad would hold me after just beating the hell out of me. He'd try to tell me that he did it because he loved me and because I was so bad. (My mother never held me on her lap.) Somehow I never could quite believe it. But I DID believe that I was VERY impossibly bad.

My first clear memory of sexual abuse, that I have never forgotten, was when I was around 4 or 5 years old. I feel it started long before this. But, THIS, I have never forgotten. It went on for some time, several years. I was being raped by a female, 8 years older than me. It was gruesome and ongoing. I remember spending a night with her and sleeping in her bed, trapped between her and the wall, while she raped me. I felt so confused and trapped, and DIRTY....and powerless. I was molested by 2 others when I was about 5-6 years old.

When I was nine, my uncle raped me with a knife at my throat to silence me. My four cousins were in the same room and I think they must have witnessed it. I also think that they were victims. One has since taken her own life. I have not felt strong enough to contact the others, but intend to. This bastard skum-bucket of an uncle is still alive. Now I know why I have always been afraid of him and had a creepy feeling around him, as a little girl, and even when I was grown up. I saw him only one time as an adult. He hated me and was angry that I was leaving the state!

There was also something horrible that happened to me when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I cannot tell you about it now. The memories are just starting to come around. I do not want to know, but I now know that I must if I want to survive and get on with my life. But it will be the final death of my childhood.

When I was 11, I was raped ongoing by a minister, threatened with a gun. I was also sodomized by this man...no BEAST. I was given the message that it was my fault and that I would die if I told. It has been torment, to tell. I have feared for my life because I have told. But, I am telling you NOW. I have had a lot of fears and feelings that I deserved to die. I KNOW that I deserve to LIVE and the THRIVE and SO DO YOU. It is not always easy to remember this.

The ages between about 7 and 11, I have no memory of, except the little bit of abuse I have mentioned. I feel deep down inside that there was a lot more. My mother gave me a bath, seemingly trying to scrub off my skin, especially my breast, when I was 11. I still hate her for this, for boundaries crossed. Boundaries were again crossed when I was 17, by another minister. I stopped it, before MY clothes were off. But HIS were already off.

I guess I want to say here that I am presently struggling to believe that all of this is really true, that it happened to ME. "Are they false memories?" I do not want to admit, especially, that my own parents crossed those boundaries. But I remember my mother 'setting me up' for my father's physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. There was NO protection from any of the other things that happened.

I remember wanting to run away, planning it, but having nowhere to go, and knew I would be found and returned home and beaten within an inch of my life. I remember daydreaming that my parents had died, and then crying and feeling guilty for thinking such a thing. I remember telling my mother about all the blood and her shrug of the shoulders, little smile, and telling me that 'it is nothing'. I ask myself now...if none of this really happened, if it is false memories, then WHY do I vomit violently, trying to throw up the 'thing' that was shoved into my mouth? Why do I gag on hard boiled eggs? Why do I trust NO one? Why do I know NOTHING about love? Why do relationships totally terrify me? Why do I crave constantly for someone to reassure me that they really do care and won't leave me? Why the depression? Why the panic attacks? Why the heartrending pain that makes me feel like my heart will break in two...the pain (emotional) that makes me whimper in the night and sob deep inside, with never a tear falling from my eyes. The list goes on-and-on. Why am I diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Why do I withdraw deep into my shell at the slightest thing? Why have I nearly taken my life on a number of occasions? Why do I claw, breaking skin, causing physical pain--and 'it feels so good'? Do YOU think that I have been abused?

It is so hard to admit that my "perfect family" was so FAR less than even mediocre. And now, as I go through the memories, hitting me, unbidden, unwanted, just keep on coming. My body also remembers, with vomiting, pelvic, pubic pain, rectal pain and bleeding? I ask again: was there abuse in my life?

I DID think of myself as a victim, until not so long ago. I thought I could NEVER call myself a SURVIVOR. I do not even know when I started using that word to describe myself. But I DO. We ARE survivors. We have come through the most horrendous battle, struggle for life. It is not over, but the worst IS over and we lived through it.

Do I always believe this? NO, I DO NOT. Sometimes the pain is so bad, that I know THIS is the worst and it will never end. But, reality is, IT WILL END. The living through it WAS the worst, and that is why we blocked it out. Our bodies went numb (and does, as I remember), and sometimes we left our body behind, separating ourselves from what was happening (I also do this as I remember). But we survived. I share all of this with you, painfully. I want you to know that you are NOT alone. I also want you to know that I CARE about YOU.

I Now know that I was being molested as a baby and the raping continued until I was 19 or 20 years old. This has been very hard to take. Very hard. But I take one day at a time. I WILL Heal!!!

-Cygnet

Adjustment disorder and the adjustment disorder symptoms can negatively impact all areas of someone’s life. Cedar Crest Hospital (2015) defines adjustment disorder as “a group of stress-related symptoms, including sadness, hopelessness, and feelings of being overwhelmed, that occur when a person is unable to properly cope or adjust to a major life stressor or event. These symptoms are disproportionate to the precipitating event." Indeed, according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, or DSM-5 (American Psychological Association, 2013), the symptoms of adjustment disorder disrupt mentally healthy functioning and can lead to

• Decreased performance at work, school, and home
• Changes and difficulties in relationships
• The complication of existing mental and physical health conditions

Types of Adjustment Disorder Symptoms

The symptoms of adjustment disorder can be felt throughout the whole person; thoughts, feelings, behavior, cognitive processing, and the body can all hurt. In any area, the types of adjustment disorder symptoms can be classified as internalizing or externalizing.

Internalizing symptoms are those effects that are turned inward. They impact the person’s subjective internal world and may include:

• Feeling sad more often than not
• Decreased self-esteem
• Loneliness
• Hopelessness
• Loss of pleasure
• Sense of shame
• Anxiety such as worry, fear, nervousness
• Feeling on edge, keyed up
• Sense of being overwhelmed
• Suicidal ideation
• Self-harm
• Difficulty making decisions
• Trouble concentrating
• Decreased appetite
• Change in sleeping habits (too much or too little)

Externalizing symptoms of adjustment disorder are those that are reflected outward toward the world, either directed toward others or easily observable by others. They can include:

• Frequent crying
• Irritability or argumentativeness
• Rage
• Ignoring bills and other financial problems
• Poor performance at work or school
• Tardiness
• Absenteeism
• Vandalism or other legal problems
• Suicidal behavior

Adjustment disorder, like all mental health disorders, is quite personal and the symptoms differ for each individual. No one experiences all of the above symptoms. Some people mostly internalize; others mostly externalize.

Further, there are specific types of adjustment disorder, and each features symptoms specific to its classification. These include adjustment disorder with depressed mood, adjustment disorder with anxiety, adjustment disorder with mixed depressed mood and anxiety, adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct, and unspecified adjustment disorder. The unspecified type includes a mix of the above symptoms that don’t fit neatly into one of the other types.

Adjustment Disorder Symptoms: Pattern and Purpose

No matter one’s symptoms, to receive a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, someone must have experienced (or be experiencing) an identifiable stressor. The stressor must occur first, followed by the symptoms of adjustment disorder that lead to significant disruption and impairment.

Adjustment disorder symptoms, whether internalizing, externalizing, or both, negatively impact the mind, body, emotions, and/or behaviors after or during a stressor. As miserable as they can be, they ultimately serve a positive purpose. They tell us that something is wrong so we can fix it and take charge of ourselves and our lives for mental health and wellbeing.

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"You don't need my voice, girl; you have your own."
-Tori Amos

So here it goes, the story of my life. It started when I was about 2 or 3. I am DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) / MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder) and that is the age of my youngest alter. Anyway, my cousins were the abusers. CJ is my age and Mindy is a few years older, and now, I have memories of my aunt.

I know that things started with groping and touching. But then things turned sadistic. Or shall I be nice by saying ritualistic. I was poked and prodded and chemicals were put on my skin. I was beaten by baseball bats, and, of course, I was sodomized. Not just with my cousin's penis, but with cucumbers, golf clubs, pens, sticks and anything else that was lying around. That lasted until I was about 6. Then I was vaginally raped by my cousin, my other cousin performed oral sex on me, and my aunt manually stimulated me. I remember a wooden spoon once.

Well this was obviously traumatizing enough, but when I was 12, I got pregnant. I was about 15-weeks pregnant before they figured out what was going on. They took a baseball bat and hit my stomach until I miscarried my dear little boy. Isaac Hunter is his name. He was born on 4-12-96. He was also burned that day. Lucky enough he wasn't alive when they did it.

That was the beginning of my fighting back. I decided I would have to win this for the sake of my dead child. However, before I got enough courage to tell, I got pregnant again. This time I was 18-weeks pregnant when they found out. I was hit with a baseball bat and a salty solution was put inside me. Kaylie Elizabeth was born and burned on 2-1-97. She was 4-inches long, and she had blondish fuzz on her head. My sweet Kaylie. She was also born dead. Besides all the bats, rapes, and beatings, losing those precious babies to the hands of my abusers was the worst thing to happen in my entire life.

After Kaylie, nothing mattered anymore. On February 5th, 1997, I broke my silence. Nothing happened to my abusers, not enough physical evidence, and they "couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that there was force and not just consensual. I had showered.

Well, at least I have screamed to the world what happened, and now everyone knows my children's names. May they RIP. Thanks for listening.

-Laura

People with schizoid personality disorder exhibit a marked lack of emotion, lack of motivation, and almost no desire to form relationships with others. Healthy people may experience short periods a couple of times in their lives where they feel no emotion, motivation, or desire to engage with others. But individuals with schizoid personality disorder have a long-term and persistent pattern of indifference, detachment from society, and a very limited range of emotions. This can make schizoid personality disorder treatment very difficult.

Schizoid Personality Disorder – The Odd and Eccentric

Schizoid personality disorder is one of the three disorders in the Cluster A group, known as the odd or eccentric personality disorders. People with schizoid personality disorder may seem strange or peculiar. They are distant and aloof, especially when it comes to relationships. They prefer solitary activities to those that involve others. If you know someone like this, you might think of him or her as an eccentric loner. (Read: Famous People with Schizoid Personality Disorder)

Individuals with schizoid personality disorder rarely express intense or strong emotion, regardless of the situation or circumstance. For example, if one of your loved ones died in a tragic accident, you'd express deep sadness. You might reach out to others to help you cope with and move through the emotional pain surrounding an event like this. Someone with schizoid personality disorder, upon hearing the same news, would display very little or no strong emotion at all in response to it.

Causes of Schizoid Personality Disorder

As with many mental disorders, researchers don't have a clear understanding of the causes of schizoid personality disorder. Some scientists theorize that it is related to schizophrenia. Schizoid personality disorder isn't as disabling as schizophrenia and, unlike schizophrenia, does not result in a disconnection from reality.

Most experts agree that schizoid personality disorder, like many mental health disorders, is caused by a combination of genetics and social environment during early development. Studies have shown that psychological temperment, shaped by upbringing and learned coping skills, along with biological (genetic) predisposition play a critical role in development of the disorder.

It's likely that no single factor is responsible; rather the disorder develops as a result of a complex matrix involving nature, nurture, and environment.

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Psychopathic personality (or the personality of a psychopath) may be hardwired from birth or may be influenced by external factors; it seems to depend on the individual and researches are split on exactly how much of a psychopathic personality is nature and how much is nurture. Nevertheless, there are factors in early life that contribute to the development of a psychopathic personality (read about child psychopaths).

What is a Psychopathic Personality?

A psychopathic personality is comprised of emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal traits. According to the Society for the Study of Psychopathy, these traits of a psychopath are:

• Lack of guilt and empathy
• Lack of close, emotional bonds with others
• Narcissism (narcissistic psychopath)
• Superficial charm
• Dishonesty
• Manipulativeness
• Reckless risk-taking

The diagnosis of a psychopath cannot be done until adulthood but psychopathic traits are commonly seen in psychopaths before they become adults. A child who has little emotion and lack of remorse and is dishonest and exhibits antisocial behavior , for example, may be exhibiting some psychopathic tendencies (read more about psychopathic children and their behaviors).

The Psychopathic Personality Inventory

The Psychopathic Personality Inventory is a checklist, the revised version of which contains 154 items, that is used in research settings to self-report psychopathy. The Psychopath Personality Inventory was created with community members (not felons) in mind. The Psychopathic Personality Inventory was designed to show trait dispositions and thus indicate psychopathic dispositions as well. The 154 items revolve around the following eight factors:

• Social influence
• Fearlessness
• Stress immunity
• Grandiose egocentricity
• Rebellious nonconformity
• Externalization of blame
• Carefree with lack of plans
• Coldheartedness

It is these characteristics that make people wonder if the psychopath can cry, love, or experience any feelings at all. If these traits are seen early, it could indicate the development of a psychopathic personality.

How the Personality of a Psychopath Develops

It's unclear exactly how the personality of a psychopath develops but it is known that some circumstance in childhood can increase the likelihood of psychopathology but also some brain and genetic abnormalities also play a part. It is possible that the following are environmental factors that may put a child at risk for developing a psychopathic personality:

• Negative parenting focusing on punishment and on a lack of rewards or inconsistent parenting
• Other types of poor parenting
• A lack of parental involvement
• Having an antisocial (sociopathic) or psychopathic parent
• Parental substance use
• Separation from a parent
• Child physical abuse or neglect

Of course, few children who experience these factors will develop into psychopaths as other neurocognitive factors must also be present. It is likely, though, that if a child experiences these risk factors and shows psychopathic tendencies as a child, there is a good chance they will grow up into an adult psychopath if intervention is not sought.

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