In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack some of our difficulties understanding antisocial personality disorder in how it combines psychology, morality, philosophy, and societal judgment. We focus on: where’s the line for disorder; how can we diagnose without judgment; and what does this personality look like when it’s not disordered? We pull from historical examples of antisocial types in specialized roles and also hypothesize that America might have transitioned from a narcissistic nation to an antisocial one.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Antisocial Personality & DSM Problems 02:46 Antisocial Personality Defined in the PDM 07:02 Where’s the Disorder Line? 17:29 Other Dark & Criminal Personalities 21:08 Morality & Antisocial Traits in Specialized Professions 23:37 Are We An Antisocial Society in America? 30:43 Are Antisocials Treatable? 34:37 Holding Empathy & Accountability for Antisocials 40:00 Closing Quote

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) begin our much-awaited series on antisocial personality disorder! In the DSM, antisocial personality is the only diagnosis that includes law-breaking as a criterion. But surely all criminals can’t have the same personality, right? In this episode, we break down its stigmatized history while sharing our thoughts and opinions about the DSM’s limitations. We take a critical look at each of the DSM’s 7 criteria, while also discussing the overlap with other disorders like narcissism, psychopathy, and the sadistic personality.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction & History of Antisocial Personality Disorder 05:21 DSM Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder 07:06: Criterion 1: Unlawful Behavior 09:32: Criterion 2: Deceitfulness & Manipulation 12:49 Criterion 3: Impulsivity 15:27 Criterion 4: Irritability & Aggression 16:21 Criterion 5: Disregard for Safety 17:44 Criterion 6: Irresponsibility 20:08 Criterion 7: Lack of Remorse 21:42 Antisocial Personality & Aging 25:05 Our Critiques & Thoughts

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack attachment and its relationship with avoidant personality disorder. We explore the four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, discussing how these styles manifest in adult relationships. We highlight the nuances of avoidant personality disorder, suggesting that individuals may present as avoidantly attached but have underlying anxious tendencies. We end by discussing some interesting research on adult attachment and coregulation with a partner, suggesting that attachment is fluid and can change depending on the relationship homeostasis.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.

Chapters 00:00 Intro to Attachment & Attachment Styles 05:15 Secure Attachment 06:08 Anxious Attachment 09:08 Avoidant Attachment 13:09 Disorganized Attachment 14:38 Attachment in Adulthood 16:54 Avoidant Personality Disorder and Attachment Dynamics 22:22 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) dive into Avoidant Personality Disorder, exploring Dr. Theodore Millon's six subtypes. We discuss a few interesting historical names before jumping into the characteristics of mild (Anxiously & Imaginatively shy); moderate (Hypersensitively & Phobicly Reticent); and severe (Conflicted & Self-Deserting) subtypes. Our conversation also critiques Millon's work, questioning the distinctiveness of avoidant traits compared to other personality disorders, and we invite listeners/viewers to share their thoughts and opinions.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Historical Names 05:18 Millon's Six Subtypes of Avoidant Personality 5:38 Mild Type Overview 6:44 Anxiously Shy Type 9:14 Imaginatively Shy Type 12:05 Moderate Level Overview 12:28 Hypersensitively Reticent Type 14:31 Phobicly Reticent Type 16:55 Severe Level Overview 17:29 Conflicted Avoidant Type 19:40 Self-Deserting Avoidant Type 22:21 Our Opinions About the Subtypes 26:14 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, licensed clinical psychologist Doc Bok unpacks the historical context of Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), exploring the ongoing debate about its classification in the DSM. This episode discusses the contributions of Theodore Millon, the controversies that arose during the introduction of APD, and the implications of trauma and sociopolitical culture on personality development. The episode concludes with proposing alternative classification systems, including the Enneagram, the psychodynamic phobic character, and avoidant personality as a problematic trait versus a disorder.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org. Clinicians use the email listed on the website.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Avoidant Personality Disorder 02:32 Millon, the DSM, and Controversy 05:47 The 1960s & Personality Development 09:37 Avoidant Traits, Trauma, & Alternative Views 18:08 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the DSM’s Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPd), exploring its hotly debated history, the DSM criteria, and its overlap with social anxiety. We discuss the developmental aspects of AvPd, the challenges of low self-esteem with this disorder, and how it can cause problems in employment. We end with our own unfiltered thoughts on whether or not we think it should be a diagnosis, questioning the zeitgeist in which it was coined, the lack of historical research, and its overlap with multiple other personality disorders.

🆘In need of psychodynamic therapy or a psychological evaluation? OR are you a provider stuck on a tricky case? To schedule with us, please visit the practice website and fill out the inquiry form! 👉https://www.questpsych.org/ (Clinicians use the email listed on the website.)

Chapters 00:00 Intro, History, & Controversy 03:42 Avoidant Personality Disorder: DSM 05:41 Social Inhibition and Fear of Criticism 08:14 Intimacy Issues and Fantasy 10:41 Self-Perception and Feelings of Inadequacy 14:49 Taking Risks and Employment Issues 17:09 Developmental Implications of Avoidant Personality 19:04 Avoidant Personality vs Social Anxiety 24:29 Unfiltered Thoughts on Avoidant Personality Disorder 35:10 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) explore the 3 most unstable personality disorders: schizotypal, borderline, and paranoid. All 3 types are at risk of psychosis. We first discuss historical personality classifications of neurotic, psychotic, and borderline, highlighting that the borderline space between neurotic and psychotic is the most prone to instability. This borderline space is where schizotypal, borderline, and paranoid personalities sit. We discuss the risky traits of each personality, including cognitive slippage, emotional instability, and extreme rigidity. We also discuss some of our thoughts and experiences in diagnosing these rather tricky disorders!

🆘Are you a clinician stuck on a case? To schedule a consultation, please visit the practice website! 👉https://www.questpsych.org/

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Psychodynamic Personality Organization 02:31 Neurotic Personality Organization 04:47 Psychotic Personality Organization 05:48 Borderline Personality Organization 07:57 Schizotypal Personality & Instability 08:57 Why Personalities Are Unstable (according to Millon) 13:55 Personalities that Coexist with Schizotypal 16:30 Borderline Personality & Instability 21:16 Personalities that Coexist with Borderline 23:18 Paranoid Personality & Instability 26:52 Personalities that Coexist with Paranoid 30:18 Our Experiences with Diagnosing Unstable Personalities 33:39 Summary & Conclusion

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the 6 subtypes of schizotypal personality disorder, according to Dr. Theodore Millon. We outline Millon’s take on “structurally defective structures” as being at risk of falling apart into psychosis at all levels of functioning, with the most severe levels of schizotypal deteriorating into schizophrenia. We then discuss the characteristics of mild, moderate, and severe subtypes, specifically: Disengaged Eccentrics, Apprehensive Eccentrics, the Insipid Schizotypal, the Timorous Schizotypal, the Immobile Schizophrenic, and the Disorganized Schizophrenic.

🆘Are you a clinician stuck on a case? To schedule a consultation, please visit the practice website! 👉https://www.questpsych.org/

Chapters 00:00 Intro & History of Schizotypal Subtypes 02:45 Theodore Millon’s Theory on Schizotypal Personality 07:00 The Mild Eccentric Level 08:21 Disengaged Eccentrics 09:39 Apprehensive Eccentrics 10:48 The Moderate Schizotypal Level 11:57 Insipid Schizotypal 18:17 Timorous Schizotypal 21:26 The Severe Schizophrenic Level 22:56 Immobile Schizophrenic 26:08 Disorganized Schizophrenic 29:05 Summary & Conclusion