PTypes - Dramatic Vices

PTypes - Personality Types

Dramatic Vices

Irrational Need
(False Good) Irrational Need to Avoid
(False Bad) Idealized Image
(Oldham, pp. 131-32) Personality Disorder
Histrionic

attention being ignored like to be seen and noticed; often the center of attention; rise to the occasion when all eyes are on them uncomfortable in situations in which they are not the center of attention

to be sexually attractive sexually attractive; seductive, engaging, charming interaction with others often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior

to react emotionally to events feeling; live in an emotional world; sensation oriented, emotionally demonstrative, physically affectionate; react emotionally to events rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotion

to present an attractive physical appearance pay a lot of attention to grooming; enjoy clothes, style, and fashion consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self

to have a dramatic, stimulating style of speech experiences life vividly and expansively; have rich imaginations, tell entertaining stories, and are drawn to romance and melodrama has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail

to dramatically express emotion expressive; display their emotions freely and openly shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion

others' guidance, help, and considered opinions eagerly responds to new ideas and suggestions by others is suggestible, easily influenced by others or circumstances

intimate relationships easily put their trust in others; are able to become quickly involved in relationships consider relationships to be more intimate than they actually are

Dramatic Vices
Irrational Need (False Good)	Irrational Need to Avoid (False Bad)	Idealized Image (Oldham, pp. 131-32)	Personality Disorder Histrionic

attention	being ignored	like to be seen and noticed; often the center of attention; rise to the occasion when all eyes are on them	uncomfortable in situations in which they are not the center of attention
to be sexually attractive		sexually attractive; seductive, engaging, charming	interaction with others often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior
to react emotionally to events		feeling; live in an emotional world; sensation oriented, emotionally demonstrative, physically affectionate; react emotionally to events	rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotion
to present an attractive physical appearance		pay a lot of attention to grooming; enjoy clothes, style, and fashion	consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self
to have a dramatic, stimulating style of speech		experiences life vividly and expansively; have rich imaginations, tell entertaining stories, and are drawn to romance and melodrama	has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail
to dramatically express emotion		expressive; display their emotions freely and openly	shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion
others' guidance, help, and considered opinions		eagerly responds to new ideas and suggestions by others	is suggestible, easily influenced by others or circumstances
intimate relationships		easily put their trust in others; are able to become quickly involved in relationships	consider relationships to be more intimate than they actually are

A vice is a firmly held false belief of the value of something. Vices dispose us to value as good or bad things not in our power, things external to our moral character. But it is irrational and prideful to desire, or to desire to avoid, to fear, externals. The irrational needs, or vices, of the Dramatic type are based on particular false values.

All of the vices are rooted in pride, that firmly held false belief that we can provide ourselves with happiness by obtaining certain external 'goods' (cf. DeYoung, pp. 38-39).

If we are in the habit of making false value-judgments of particular externals, we should learn to bear the things falsely valued as bad, things for which we have an "irrational need to avoid," and forbear the things falsely valued as good, things for which we have an "irrational need." "Bear and Forbear" - Epictetus

Irrational Strategies for Obtaining Happiness

A Brief Theory of Bad Character

Rebecca DeYoung (2009). Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.

John M. Oldham and Lois B. Morris (1995). The New Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and Act the Way You Do. New York: Bantam. Oldham and Morris list the key characteristics not of an idealized image, but of a style of normal functioning.

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