The Different Personality Disorders and the Film Characters Who Have Them

When it comes to dealing with people, we must prepare ourselves for all kinds of outcomes. We’ll meet nice people, friendly people, shady ones. Toxic ones. That last one is tricky. I’m referring to Cluster B personality disorders. How to tell if they have a personality disorder? By spending time with them and picking up on clues and behavioral patterns. Like I said, it’s not easy. They’re good at hiding these things at first. If you’re lucky, they’ll exhibit erratic behavior from the start — just make sure you don’t excuse it away. Don’t ignore the red flags.

Here’s the list of the four Cluster B disorders, with some book and film character examples.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) — They fear abandonment above all else. This isn’t the commitment phobic, I-need-my-own-space type (known as Avoidant Attachment Style), these are the kind of people who will abuse, neglect and push you away, only to go into panic mode when you do leave. They mention suicide and death a lot. They can’t be alone. They tend to use their bodies and seduction as a way to attract people. They’re often unfaithful. Self-destructive. Prone to addictions and eating disorders. They have uncontrollable mood swings. Melancholy temperament. They will abandon people before they abandon them. They’d even abandon pets. BPD is one out of two disorders that feel genuine empathy and remorse though, and many of them are not intentionally evil, so there’s that. Worst case scenario: cutting and other forms of self-mutilation. Predominantly female.

Fictional Characters with BPD:

Camille Preaker in SHARP OBJECTS (Amy Adams)

Alex Forrest in FATAL ATTRACTION (Glenn Close)

Megan in THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Haley Bennett)

Rebecca Bunch in CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (Rachel Bloom)

Clementine in ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Kate Winslet)

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) — We’re not talking about vain people here. This is not someone who basks in the glow of their gorgeousness. NPD far outweighs that. They are self-grandiose, and often exaggerate their skills and accomplishments. They need constant “fuel” (narcissistic supply) from various people. They get current and former partners, friends and co-workers to vie for their attention (triangulation). They “love bomb” on and off (push and pull). They “mirror” you. Magical thinking. They cause chaos and conflict everywhere they go. No empathy or accountability. No personal responsibility. They play the victim a lot. Extremely abusive. Cunning and manipulative. They make everything about them — and getting answers out of them is like pulling four infected molars with a toothpick. They do and say the opposite of what you want, like or think (devaluation). They take other people’s side over yours. Backhanded compliments. Gaslighting, projection and jealous-making. Smear campaigns and flying monkeys. Pathological envy. Prone to boredom. They’re either overt or covert, somatic or cerebral (more on this in the book). They discard people and then “hoover” them. They feel (low levels of) shame. They fear rejection and exposure. Worst case scenario: a collapsed narcissist would self-destruct and destroy others in their wake, especially when they’re short on supply. Predominantly male.

Characters with NPD:

Joan Crawford in MOMMY DEAREST (Faye Dunaway)

Gregory in GASLIGHT (Charles Boyer)

Charlie Babbitt in RAIN MAN (Tom Cruise)

Martin in SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY (Patrick Bergin)

Ripley in THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (Matt Damon)

Miranda Priestly in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (Meryl Streep)

Tom in THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Justin Theroux)

Kathryn in CRUEL INTENTIONS (Sarah Michelle Gellar)

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) — Pathological attention-seeker! Must be the center of attention all the time. Uncomfortable in a “subdued” setting (not getting attention). Laughs the loudest. Cries intensely and throws tantrums. Shallow reactions and feelings. Little to no empathy. Plays the victim a lot. Sees relationships as closer than they are. Impressionable (believes everything they hear). Changes hair color, clothing style and public persona often. Loud clothing. Overtly sexual. Most likely to show up in a low-cut dress at a church or funeral. Says and does overt sexual things. Prone to depression and suicidal thoughts. Unfaithful to their spouse or life partner. Worst case scenario: this is the kind of person who would poison, sicken or induce a medical problem to get attention from doctors, nurses and everyone in their lives. Hospitalized often. They’re also the ones likely to poison or sicken other people (including their own children) as a way to get attention through them. They’re also the ones most likely to encourage someone to commit suicide (to get attention as the “devastated loved one.”) Predominantly female.

Characters with HPD:

Regina George in MEAN GIRLS (Rachel McAdams)

Elizabeth Halsey in BAD TEACHER (Cameron Diaz)

Guinevere Beck in YOU (Elizabeth Lail)

Adora Crellin in SHARP OBJECTS (Patricia Clarkson)

Scarlett O’Hara in GONE WITH THE WIND (Vivien Leigh)

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) — The only disorder with two types: psychopaths and sociopaths. The difference between them? Psychopathy is (potentially) genetic and sociopathy stems from intense childhood trauma. Psychopaths lack empathy, sociopaths feel (low levels of) empathy and remorse. Controlling and manipulative. Cunning. Choleric temperament. Superficial charm. Unable to regulate emotions. Difficulty in social settings (sociopathy). Charming and personable façade, with overt inconsistencies and contradictions. Would marry, have children and/or buy a house to appear normal. Reckless behavior. Tendency to leech off others (psychopathy). Most likely to physically abuse others. Torture animals. Little to no expression lines on their faces and foreheads. No personal responsibility or accountability. Social and corporate climbers, most likely to have positions of power (CEOs, politicians, Wall Street types, etc). Backstabbers. Envious. See people as objects. Pathological liars. Grandiose sense of self. Worst case scenario: serial killers, spouse beaters and rapists. Predominantly male.

Characters with ASPD:

Joe Goldberg in YOU (Penn Bagdley)

Chigurh in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Javier Bardem)

Catherine Tramell in BASIC INSTINCT (Sharon Stone)

Patrick Bateman in AMERICAN PSYCHO (Christian Bale)

Amy Elliot in GONE GIRL (Rosamund Pike)

The Phantom in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Hedy in SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (Jennifer Jason Leigh)

Jordan Belfort in THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (Leonardo DiCaprio)

Amma Crellin in SHARP OBJECTS (Eliza Scanlen)

Note: These disorders are clustered together for a reason. A narcissist may have borderline, histrionic and/or psychotic tendencies. Borderlines could also be narcissistic and sociopathic. Sometimes they’re so similar it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. Look for the characteristics that stand out the most in these individuals.

Also note: Do you exhibit some of these traits yourself? Remember: having two or three of these traits does not make you a narcissist, borderline, or whatever. You should exhibit five or more consistent traits in the DSM-5. Don’t self-diagnose! You may pick up on Cluster B habits when you’re around them (also known as “fleas”). These habits go away after they (or you) leave.

Will you be able to avoid these people throughout your life? No. Many people have family members and/or business partners with these disorders. This is why we should equip ourselves with knowledge and preparation. There are people out there whose sole purpose in life is to use and abuse others. Don’t let them.