Interpersonal Consequences of Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

In an attempt to explore the interpersonal consequences of borderline personality disorder, we compared two contrasting personality types, narcissistic and borderline. Male and female students viewed one of four videotapes depicting male or female narcissists and borderlines. The First Impression Questionnaire was used to measure participants' perceptions of each personality type. It was hypothesized that borderline personality styles would be perceived more negatively than narcissistic personality styles. It was also hypothesized that the male borderline would be more negatively evaluated than the female borderline, and that the female narcissist would be more negatively evaluated than the male narcissist. In addition, we attempted to determine how a person is perceived when first seen in a neutral context, and then in a situation in which more dysfunctional personality characteristics are revealed, followed by a return to a neutral context. Results supported the first hypothesis and indicated that borderlines were more negatively perceived than narcissists. The second hypothesis was not supported in that both male and female borderline were perceived to be more negative than both male and female narcissists. A sequential time analysis failed to produce negative carryover effects following presentation of personality disorders, suggesting that an initial neutral impression may override a subsequent negative impressions of disordered personality when evaluated in a second neutral segment. Gender by sequential time analysis interactions were discussed in light of prior conceptions of the healthy female and male gender roles.