Honestly, this will never be done cause of how ambitious it is and because I feel like I’d be preaching to the choir but I’d love to write a whole book or super long essay on the alt-right in general like the history of their ideology, how they evolved from the origins, and how it got so popular so it would go through European history up until modern American history + how it affects other countries but again it feels like I’d be telling people who already know why lmao
That person who described Ellen as an apex predator, one who controlled who was allowed to go from niche moment of virality to stable notoriety was really on to something. I was thinking about her in the context of Clavicular and supposed she probably didn't have the power to destroy him early on.... but do you know who could have?
*menacing thunder crackles*
Dr Phil!
He'd have sucked every bit of marrow from the smashed facial bones kf that boy in a 40 minute episode and we'd never see him again.
I think Clavicular might have Histrionic Personality Disorder. He fits the criteria very well. It's a cluster B and falls into the same category as antisocial, borderline, and narcissistic personality disorders. (Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors).
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Here's the diagnostic criteria and features from DSM-5 for Histrionic, in the manual they are separate so I put them together for clarity.
Diagnostic Criteria and Features. (Criteria being most important):
The essential feature of histrionic personality disorder is pervasive and excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. This pattern begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Criteria.) Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention.
(Features: Individuals with histrionic personality disorder are uncomfortable or feel unappreciated when they are not the center of attention. Often lively and dramatic, they tend to draw attention to themselves and may initially charm new acquaintances by their enthusiasm, apparent openness, or flirtatiousness. These qualities wear thin, however, as these individuals continually demand to be the center of attention. They commandeer the role of "the life of the party." If they are not the center of attention, they may do something dramatic (e.g., make up stories, create a scene) to draw the focus of attention to themselves.)
2. Criteria.) Interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior.
(Features: The appearance and behavior of individuals with this disorder are often inappropriately sexually provocative or seductive. This behavior not only is directed toward persons in whom the individual has a sexual or romantic interest but also occurs in a wide variety of social, occupational, and professional relationships beyond what is appropriate for the social context.)
3. Criteria.) Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions.
(Feature: Emotional expression may be shallow and rapidly shifting)
4. Criteria.) Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self.
(Features: Individuals with this disorder consistently use physical appearance to draw attention to themselves. They are overly concerned with impressing others by their appearance and expend an excessive amount of time, energy, and money on clothes and grooming. They may "fish for compliments" regarding appearance and may be easily and excessively upset by a critical comment about how they look or by a photograph that they regard as unflattering.)
5. Criteria.) Has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail.
(Features: These individuals have a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail. Strong opinions are expressed with dramatic flair, but underlying reasons are usually vague and diffuse, without supporting facts and details. For example, an individual with histrionic personality disorder may comment that a certain individual is a wonderful human being, yet be unable to provide any specific examples of good qualities to support this opinion.)
6. Criteria.) Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion.
(Features: Individuals with this disorder are characterized by self-dramatization, theatricality, and an exaggerated expression of emotion. They may embarrass friends and acquaintances by an excessive public display of emotions (e.g., embracing casual acquaintances with excessive ardor, sobbing uncontrollably on minor sentimental occasions, having temper tantrums). However, their emotions often seem to be turned on and off too quickly to be deeply felt, which may lead others to accuse the individual of faking these feelings.)
7. Criteria.) Is suggestible (i.e., easily influenced by others or circumstances).
(features: Individuals with histrionic personality disorder have a high degree of suggestibility. Their opinions and feelings are easily influenced by others and by current fads. They may be overly trusting, especially of strong authority figures whom they see as mag ically solving their problems. They have a tendency to play hunches and to adopt convictions quickly.)
8. Criteria.) Consider relationships to be more intimate than they actually are.
(Features: Individuals with this disorder often consider relationships more intimate than they actually are, describing almost every acquaintance as "my dear, dear friend" or referring to physicians met only once or twice under professional circumstances by their first names)
Associated Features Supporting Diagnosis
Individuals with histrionic personality disorder may have difficulty achieving emotional intimacy in romantic or sexual relationships. Without being aware of it, they often act out a role (e.g., "victim" or "princess") in their relationships to others. They may seek to control their partner through emotional manipulation or seductiveness on one level, while displaying a marked dependency on them at another level. Individuals with this disorder often have impaired relationships with same-sex friends because their sexually provocative interpersonal style may seem a threat to their friends' relationships. These individuals may also alienate friends with demands for constant attention. They often become depressed and upset when they are not the center of attention. They may crave novelty, stimulation, and excitement and have a tendency to become bored with their usual routine. These individuals are often intolerant of, or frustrated by, situations that involve delayed gratification, and their actions are often directed at obtaining immediate satisfaction. Although they often initiate a job or project with great enthusiasm, their interest may lag quickly. Longer-term relationships may be neglected to make way for the excitement of new relationships.
Differential Diagnosis
Other personality disorders may be confused with histrionic personality disorder because they have certain features in common.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Although borderline personality disorder can also be characterized by attention seeking, manipulative behavior, and rapidly shifting emotions, it is distinguished by self-destructiveness, angry disruptions in close relationships, and chronic feelings of deep emptiness and identity disturbance.
Manipulative behavior in Antisocial Personality Disorder
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder share a tendency to be impulsive, superficial, excitement seeking, reckless, seductive, and manipulative, but persons with histrionic personality disorder tend to be more exaggerated in their emotions and do not characteristically engage in antisocial behaviors. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder are manipulative to gain nurturance, whereas those with antisocial personality disorder are manipulative to gain profit, power, or some other material gratification.
Attention seeking in Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Although individuals with narcissistic personality disorder also crave attention from others, they usually want praise for their "superiority," whereas individuals with histrionic personality disorder are willing to be viewed as fragile or dependent if this is instrumental in getting attention. Individuals with NPD may exaggerate the intimacy of their relationships with other people, but they are more apt to emphasize the "VIP" status or wealth of their friends.
Dependent Personality Disorder
In dependent personality disorder, the individual is excessively dependent on others for praise and guidance, but is without the flamboyant, exaggerated, emotional features of individuals with HPD
Only when these traits are inflexible, maladaptive, and persisting and cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress do they constitute histrionic personality disorder.
Personality change due to another medical condition.
Histrionic personality disorder must be distinguished from personality change due to another medical condition, in which the traits that emerge are attributable to the effects of another medical condition on the central nervous system.
Substance use disorders.
The disorder must also be distinguished from symptoms that may develop in association with persistent substance use.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.)
