What Are Personality Disorder Clusters? A, B, and C Explained

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You may have heard the term Cluster B personality disorders used in conversations about narcissism or difficult relationship patterns. Narcissistic personality disorder is one of the better-known diagnoses in this group, and it often gets singled out in popular discussions.

What’s less commonly explained is that narcissism is just one disorder within a broader system used by clinicians to organize personality disorders. In current diagnostic manuals, personality disorders are grouped into three clusters — A, B, and C — based on shared patterns of thinking, emotional response, and interpersonal behavior.

These clusters provide a framework for understanding how different personality disorders are related, where they overlap, and how they tend to show up in behavior and relationships.

Understanding the clusters can make the topic of personality disorders feel less abstract and more coherent, whether you are learning for personal insight, relationship understanding, or general mental health education.

Three Clusters of Personality Disorders: A, B, and C

Current editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders group personality disorders into three categories—called clusters—based on shared traits.

Each cluster includes different disorders that have certain characteristics in common, but also have their own defining traits.

Cluster A: Odd/Eccentric

Paranoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Cluster B: Dramatic/Emotional/Erratic

Cluster C: Anxious/Fearful

Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (not the same as OCD)

Key Characteristics of 10 Personality Disorders By Cluster

Now that you know how the 10 official personality disorders are grouped into three clusters, let’s take a closer look at each disorder and some of the traits that define them.

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be diagnostic. It is always advisable to seek the help of personal mental health professionals to examine specific situations.

Cluster A: Odd or Eccentric

Icons for Cluster A Personality Disorders, Schizotypal, Schizoid

Cluster A includes people who tend to appear socially awkward, emotionally distant, or unconventional in behavior or thinking. Others may see them as unusual or hard to connect with.

Paranoid
Distrust of others, suspicion without evidence, hypersensitivity to perceived threats or slights, persistent belief that others are out to harm or deceive them

Schizoid
Emotional detachment, social withdrawal, little interest in relationships, indifferent to praise or criticism, limited emotional expression

Schizotypal
Eccentric behavior, odd beliefs or magical thinking, social anxiety, suspiciousness, vague or unusual speech, discomfort with close relationships

Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic

Cluster B Personality Disorders, Narcissistic, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic. With icons for each.

This group is known for intense emotions, impulsivity, and unstable relationships. People in this cluster often struggle with self-regulation and may create turmoil in their personal or professional lives.

Antisocial
Disregard for others’ rights, deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, lack of remorse, history of rule-breaking or criminal behavior.

Borderline
Emotional instability, intense fear of abandonment, unstable self-image, impulsive behavior, self-harm or suicidal gestures, turbulent relationships

Histrionic
Attention-seeking, dramatic or theatrical behavior, shallow emotions, strong need for approval, suggestibility, inappropriate seductiveness

Narcissistic
Inflated sense of self-importance, need for admiration, lack of empathy, entitlement, exaggeration of achievements, sensitivity to criticism

Cluster C: Anxious or Fearful

Icons for Cluster C Personality Disorders , Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive Compulsive

Cluster C includes people who are overly worried about criticism, rejection, or losing control. Their behaviors are often driven by fear or insecurity.

Avoidant
Social inhibition, fear of rejection or criticism, low self-esteem, avoidance of new activities, strong desire for connection but fear of exposure

Dependent
Excessive need to be cared for, submissiveness, difficulty making decisions independently, fear of separation, difficulty expressing disagreement

Obsessive-Compulsive
Preoccupation with order, perfectionism, control, inflexibility, over-focus on rules and details, reluctance to delegate, rigidity in thinking

How Personality Disorder Clusters Affect Relationships

Personality disorder traits often become most visible in close relationships — romantic, family, friendships, and work. While each cluster presents challenges in different ways, Cluster B disorders and Dependent personality traits tend to be especially difficult to navigate with intimate partners.

Cluster B traits often involve emotional intensity, impulsivity, and unstable self-image, which can lead to cycles of idealization and devaluation, frequent conflict, and heightened reactivity.

Dependent traits, found in Cluster C, may show up as excessive reassurance-seeking, fear of separation, difficulty asserting needs, or tolerating unhealthy dynamics to avoid abandonment.

These patterns can be confusing and exhausting for partners, particularly when behaviors repeat despite good intentions or attempts to improve communication. Over time, relationships may become defined by emotional strain, power imbalances, or chronic instability.

Recognizing how these traits cluster together can help clarify what you may be dealing with.

Understanding Personality Disorders in Context

Personality disorder clusters describe patterns, not destinies. They are one way clinicians organize overlapping traits, but diagnosis and interpretation can vary depending on the system being used.

These posts provide more context:

🟢➜ What Are Personality Disorders? 10 PD Types + Key Insights
A broader overview of personality, how these disorders are defined, how they differ from mental health disorders, and therapy challenges.

🟢➜ How Personality Disorders Are Diagnosed Around the World
How the DSM and ICD approach personality disorder diagnosis and why criteria differ across countries.

Tools for Clarity and Personal Growth

If you are trying to make sense of difficult relationship dynamics or repeated emotional patterns — whether in yourself or someone close to you — structured reflection can be helpful.

Here are two of my books that can provide clarity and support.

🟢➜ Building Skills to Uplevel Life: Silver Lining Emotional Intelligence Workbook

A practical step-by-step workbook for making sense of emotionally intense experiences, building steadier responses, and reclaiming a sense of agency over your choices.

🟢➜ Abuse OF Men BY Women: It Happens, It Hurts, and It's Time to Get Real About It

An in-depth exploration of relationship patterns that cross into emotional, psychological, or physical abuse, with a focus on clarity, validation, and practical next steps.

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