4 Obsessive Personality Traits

Some people are spontaneous, outgoing, and love improvisation, while others are more serious, more formal, and more organized. Then there are those individuals who have obsessive personality traits. An obsessive personality is often too rigid, which usually leads to social conflicts as well as personal discomfort.

The word “obsession” has many different meanings. Unfortunately, it is also used in contexts that have nothing to do with the truth. For example, a person who has a strong focus on an idea, action, or interpersonal relationship is often referred to as “obsessive”. However, this is far from what the term means in a clinical setting.

Obsessive personality

We also know this as obsessive personality disorder. Its main feature is a stable and continuous model of thought, emotions and actions. The activity of a person with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by rigidity, perfectionism, and the need for control.

It is a personality disorder, so the above traits manifest in all areas of life, both personal and professional.

What are the characteristics of an obsessive personality?

Obsessive personality manifests itself in several identifiable traits. However, these attitudes are sometimes at a lower level that does not meet diagnostic criteria. However, they still cause many of the disadvantages of this disorder.

1. Excessive organization

Organizing helps you manage tasks and responsibilities and saves you time when done right. A person with obsessive personality disorder takes it to the extreme. At the same time, however, organization is unproductive.

For example, they can spend a lot of time filling out lists, creating schedules, and setting reminders while leaving the main task aside.

2. Perfectionism

People with this personality disorder strive for perfection in all their activities and do not allow themselves a margin of error. Thus, it causes them to perform functions under high pressure.

Therefore, they postpone the most difficult tasks. In addition, they tend to check for faults repeatedly, making it impossible to meet deadlines in many situations.

3. Inflexibility

These people need clear and precise rules that they and everyone else must follow. They are technical (at work), social, and moral, so they become indifferent to co-workers, relatives, and acquaintances.

In addition, they believe that others are unable to meet their high standards and therefore overload themselves with tasks. In addition, they believe that any voluntary or unintentional violations must be demonstrated and punished.

4. Slight emotional expression

An obsessive personality is formal, serious, and polite in its interactions, so emotional expression is diminished. In addition, they may feel uncomfortable with other people’s spontaneous emotional expressions.

The development of an obsessive personality

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the emergence of an obsessive personality. Thus, it is related to the parenting style, childhood experiences, and culture in which the person grows, in addition to the hereditary biological burden.

Authoritarian and dominant education can influence the development of these traits in humans. They do so to avoid punishment even as an adult. An overprotective parenting style also works because parents don’t allow a child to try things for themselves and make their own mistakes. Thus, the child ends up internalizing the idea that they must strive for perfection.

Similarly, societies with strict and mandatory moral norms (e.g., religions) can also influence the onset of such symptoms.

Overcoming an obsessive personality

One must be aware of one’s condition. In other words, he must acknowledge that these patterns of thought and behavior are harmful. Only then is the treatment of obsessive-compulsive personality effective.

In addition, professional support is important so that they can understand the origin of their personality and try to change it.

Exposure to different things is one of the most effective techniques. A person begins to face certain situations where he or she would act rigidly and prevent such responses. Relaxation techniques and problem-solving training are also effective.

Obsessive Compulsive Personality vs. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

It is important to distinguish between these. In fact, both medical conditions often occur simultaneously, but they are different.

The first is personality disorder, while the latter is anxiety disorder. The main feature of OCD is obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and sanctions (behaviors designed to eliminate the discomfort of such thoughts).

These units are not part of an obsessive personality. In addition, people find such thoughts inappropriate and contrary to the person with OCD. Instead, these beliefs are real, consistent, and acceptable to those with an obsessive personality.

Restricting does not help

Many traits of an obsessive personality are praised and rewarded in today’s individualistic and competitive society. However, they can lead to emotional discomfort and problems in relationships with other people when taken to extremes.

Seek expert help if you feel that your rigid attitude is limiting your growth as a person.