4 Obsessive Personality Traits
Each one has a different personality. There are people more spontaneous, outgoing and lovers of improvisation and others more serious, formal and organized. However, when the rigidity of character becomes excessive, social conflicts and personal discomfort can arise. This is what happens with the obsessive personality.
The word obsession and all its variants have been used with different meanings, not always accurate. For example, if a person is intensely focused on an idea, activity, or relationship, others often claim that they are obsessed. However, this is far from what the term implies in the clinical setting.
What is obsessive personality?
Obsessive personality is known as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder . It is characterized by a stable and persistent pattern of thoughts, emotions, and actions marked by rigidity, perfectionism, and the need for control.
Being a personality disorder, these characteristics are manifested in different areas of life, such as employment, the couple, social relationships and remain unchanged for years.
What are the traits of an obsessive personality?
The obsessive personality manifests itself in a series of identifiable traits. However, on occasions, these attitudes are presented at a lower level that does not meet the diagnostic criteria, but still give rise to many of the inconveniences of the disorder.
1. Excessive organization
Being organized helps us to fulfill our tasks and obligations and even to have more free time. However, in the obsessive personality this organization becomes excessive and unproductive.
For example, the person can spend a large part of the time filling out agendas, creating schedules and setting reminders, even leaving aside the main task.
2. Perfectionism
People with this personality disorder seek perfection in everything they do and allow themselves no room for error. This leads them to carry out activities under great pressure.
Therefore, they tend to postpone the most difficult ones. In addition, they tend to repeatedly check for faults, making it impossible for them on many occasions to meet delivery deadlines.
3. Inflexibility
These people need clear and precise rules that they and everyone else must adhere to. These standards are technical (at work), social and moral, so they are uncompromising with fellow employees, close friends and acquaintances.
They consider that others are not capable of acting under their high standards and therefore are overloaded with tasks. In addition, they think that all voluntary or involuntary transgression must be pointed out and punished.
4. Low emotional expression
The obsessive personality leads to trying to be formal, serious and polite in their interactions, so their emotional expression is reduced. In addition, they may feel uncomfortable with the spontaneous emotional expression of others.
How does the obsessive personality develop?
Both genetic factors and environmental elements converge at the origin of the obsessive personality. Thus, aspects related to parenting style, childhood experiences and the culture in which the person grows up are added to the inherited biological load.
Having lived an authoritarian and controlling education can lead the person to develop these traits to avoid punishment, even as an adult. Overprotection also influences, since parents do not allow the child to try and make mistakes and ends up internalizing the idea that it is necessary to act perfectly.
Similarly, societies that have strict and enforceable moral standards (for example, in some religions) can also contribute to the appearance of symptoms.
How to overcome the obsessive personality?
For the treatment of the obsessive-compulsive personality to be effective, it is necessary in the first place that the person becomes aware of their condition, that is, that they recognize that these patterns of thought and behavior are causing them harm.
In addition, professional accompaniment will be of great importance to help us understand the origin of that personality and to modify it.
Exposure is one of the most effective techniques. The person begins to face certain situations in which he would act rigidly, preventing such responses. Relaxation techniques and problem-solving training are also effective.
How is obsessive personality different from obsessive compulsive disorder?
It is important to differentiate obsessive personality from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). And, despite the fact that both pathologies frequently occur together, they are different conditions.
First, while the former is a personality disorder, the latter is an anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (behaviors aimed at eliminating the discomfort of those thoughts).
These entities do not appear in the compulsive personality. Furthermore, while in OCD the thoughts are experienced as improper and contrary to one’s own person, in the compulsive personality the beliefs feel coherent and acceptable.
If it limits you, it doesn’t help you
Several of the obsessive personality traits are praised and rewarded in today’s individualistic and competitive society. However, taken to the extreme they can generate emotional distress and problems in relationships with others.
For the same reason, if you feel that your rigid attitude is limiting you in some area of your life, seek professional guidance.
