Mary has been married for 20 years and describes how her husband has been verbally abusive toward her for most of that time. She indicates that her husband has had multiple affairs with other women but she can't leave him because she "loves and needs him." When challenged by the interviewer regarding the wisdom of staying with such a man, Mary agrees with the interviewer, although she later confides that she always agrees with everyone to avoid conflict and disapproval. Mary should be diagnosed with ________ personality disorder.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mary's tendency to agree with others to avoid conflict and disapproval is a characteristic of dependent personality disorder. This disorder is characterized by a person's excessive reliance on others to make decisions and take care of their emotional and physical needs. Mary's inability to leave her verbally abusive husband despite his infidelity also indicates a lack of assertiveness and a need for external validation, which are common traits of dependent personality disorder.

Mary Has Been Married for 20 Years and Describes How