Histrionic Women in Iran: A Qualitative Study of the Couple Interactive Pathology of the Women with Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)

Abstract

A variety of factors contribute to causes the couple’s vulnerabilities, including the personality traits that affect the couple’s healthy relationships. This study mainly aims to identify the couple’s vulnerabilities, notably women, with symptoms of the histrionic personality disorder. This is a qualitative study with a content analysis approach. The data collection process consists of 17 semi-structured interviews with the therapists, men with histrionic spouses, and the women with histrionic personality disorder, and using the related literature. The sampling process started purposefully and continued until data saturation. The data analysis led to the extraction of three categories including functional vulnerabilities, relationship vulnerabilities, and emotional vulnerabilities. Findings showed that personality traits of a histrionic woman dramatically affect the obvious individual behaviors and interpersonal relationships including couple’s relationships.