Question

Distinguish between paranoid and schizoid personality disorders.

Hint:

Remember: Paranoid personality = suspicious and mistrustful; Schizoid personality = detached and emotionally distant.

Answer 1

Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by excessive suspicion and mistrust of others without sufficient reason.
People with paranoid personality disorder often believe that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving them, even when there is no evidence.
They are generally defensive, argumentative, and reluctant to confide in others due to fear that information will be used against them.
Schizoid personality disorder, on the other hand, is marked by detachment from social relationships and a limited range of emotional expression.
Individuals with schizoid personality disorder prefer solitude, show little interest in forming close relationships, and often appear indifferent to praise or criticism.
Unlike paranoid individuals, they are not suspicious or fearful of others but rather choose isolation and show little desire for social interaction.
Thus, the main difference is that paranoid personality involves mistrust and suspicion, while schizoid personality involves emotional coldness and social withdrawal.