Writing Characters: Histrionic Personality

I’m continuing my series inspired by Cluster B Personality Disorders because messy characters make great stories. You can check out my posts on Classic Narcissists, Vulnerable Narcissist, and Borderline Personality too. Without further ado, writing characters—histrionic personality.

Histrionic Personality Traits

Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by constant attention-seeking, emotional overreaction, and seductive behavior. People with this condition tend to overdramatize situations, which may impair relationships and lead to depression. Yet they are highly suggestible, easily susceptible to the influence of others. (Psychology Today)

According to the DSM-5, for a diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder to be given, five or more of the following symptoms must be present:

• Self-centeredness, feeling uncomfortable when not the center of attention
• Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
• Inappropriately seductive appearance or behavior
• Rapidly shifting emotional states that appear shallow to others
• Overly concerned with physical appearance, and using physical appearance to draw attention to self
• Opinions are easily influenced by other people, but difficult to back up with details
• Excessive dramatics with exaggerated displays of emotion
• Tendency to believe that relationships are more intimate than they actually are
• Is highly suggestible (easily influenced by others)

Additionally

• Life of the party
• Dressing dramatically or provocatively
• Making up or exaggerating stories
• Exaggerating or making up the symptoms of an illness
• Showering other people with compliments and love declarations even if you just met them
• Getting into minor accidents that require other people to “rescue” them
• Getting competitive with others in many situations or trying to trump whatever they’re talking about (e.g., “That happened to me, but in this better way”)
• Interests and conversation will be self-focused.
• Physical appearance to draw attention to themselves.
• Tend to believe that relationships are more intimate than they actually are.
• Emotional expression may be shallow and rapidly shifting.
• Style of speech is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail.
• They may do well with jobs that value and require imagination and creativity, but will probably have difficulty with tasks that demand logical or analytical thinking.
• From Psychology Today and Psych Central

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Examples in Film

• Scarlet O’Hara (Vivian Leigh) in Gone with the Wind constantly craves attention and manipulates those around to get what she wants.
• Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) in Joker seeks attention, creates dramatic situations (in his pursuit of fame), and needs validation/acceptance.
• Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) in Fatal Attraction has an obsession with Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas). She becomes erratic and unstable when her needs are not met.
• Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) in La La Land seeks validation, attention, and creates dramatic situations to further her career.

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Do They Have Empathy?

Individuals with histrionic personalities may seem unempathetic, but they really suffer from little self-awareness and low emotional intelligence. They may appear manipulative in situations when they are not the center of attention. (Psychology Today) This sets them apart from narcissists who lack empathy.

What Histrionics Need

• To establish consistent eating and sleeping schedules
• Exercise on a regular basis
• Avoid drugs and alcohol
• Enlist the help of trusted friends and family to keep you on track

Stages in a Relationship

In other words, here is a brief outline of events for your story.

1. You are “the one”
2. Hypersensitivity due to fear creeping in
3. Testing and pushing away in small ways
4. Intentional distancing due to fear of being abandoned
5. Relationship ends
6. HPD spirals
7. The cycle starts over if they win you back

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How the Recipient Feels

Dating someone with a histrionic personality may mean handling unpredictable behaviors and over-the-top displays of emotion. Ignoring them may not be the best coping strategy. (Psych Central)

• Pushed and pulled
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Competed with all attention
• Feelings of neglect
• Jealous when your HPD partner flirts with others
• Need to calm overreactions
• Being lied to or witness to lying
• Manipulated
• Having to set firm boundaries
• Need to distance self
• Practice self care

Behaviors are often rooted in childhood trauma. Here is a wonderful video on how to cope.

See more

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Cluster B Personality

Here’s a chart with the four quadrants in the cluster.

Definition: Affective instability is a marked reactivity of mood; shifts from baseline mood to depression, irritability, or anxiety, usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days.

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Resources & References

Histrionic Personality Disorder (Psychology Today)

All About Histrionic Personality Disorder (Psych Central)

What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)? (Very Well Mind)

Histrionic Personality in Relationships: Challenges and How to Cope (Psych Central)

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This post is not intended to give any medical advice. If you think you are in a abusive relationship, please reach out for professional help. More information on Psychology Today here.

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