Daniel A. Bochner, Ph.D.

Every aspect of our communication with others involves personality. That's why categorizing personalities is so important. By specifying the inner workings and motivations involved in each major type of personality, we can understand those with whom we come into contact, and thus communicate with them in more constructive ways. In several other articles I have delineated those personality types that are most commonly seen in my psychotherapy office. In everyday life, however, the other major personality types are equally common. Certain individuals are, for better or worse, less likely to show up in the psychotherapists office. Below you will find each of the other major personality styles, described in their most elemental forms. For each, the central conflict driving the personality style will be outlined. For each, the path toward growth through that conflict, or the necessary path for others in dealing with that personality style, will be illuminated.

The remainder of this article covers Dependent Personality, Antisocial Personality, Avoidant Perasonality, Schizoid Personality and Paranoid Personality.

For the complete article, please buy The Emotional Toolbox book.