Personality Quizzes

One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' beats teamwork. -- Edward Abbey

Perhaps individuals with Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) agree with Mr. Abbey and have decided that "pretty stupid" is better than "the bona fide stupidity" of teamwork. SPD is a "pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal setting" (DSM IV, 1996, p.638). As with other personality disorders it will begin in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. These are not sociable folks. They do not appear to seek out or welcome close relationships.

As with Paranoid Personality Disorder, relatives are likely to want the individual to seek help. Family members may hope that "talking" will change their loved one into a "normal", emotionally responsive human being. If the person wants to make changes he or she will - if not, he or she will not. Odds are good that the SPD individual will never be an expressive person, and will probably continue to desire solitude. He or she may seek treatment for the anxiety and/or depression from which SPD individuals may suffer, but not for the personality disorder itself.

This disorder will appear in about 3% of the general population. Slightly more will be male than female.

The characteristics below are likely to be apparent in individuals with SPD. To find out if they are representative of you or someone you know, mark each questions with a "Y" for Yes and a "N" for No and then consult the scoring instructions at the end of the test. By the way, it is highly unlikely that someone with Schizoid Personality Disorder would be taking this test.

• December 29, 2008, 12:27 am - schizoid it is highly unlikely that someone with Schizoid Personality Disorder would be taking this test? i did!
• January 9, 2009, 3:26 am - leo I did too, but I'm actually a med student :) Of course I can be still imagining things like all my family say but either I'm schizoid (about 90% of probability on personality disorder tests) or "# very expressed introvert # moderately expressed intuitive personality # distinctively expressed thinking personality # moderately expressed perceiving personality" as indicated by normal personality test which is just a strange score :D
• May 20, 2009, 1:43 am - Corvid I happen to have Schizoid Personality Disorder, and I disagree with the assumption that those who has the disorder do not experience strong emotions. Despite the fact that I rarely express it, I find that I am more deeply affected by certain experiences in comparison to others.
• May 20, 2009, 9:25 am - Dr. Dorothy You make a very good point. Not everyone with Schizoid Personality Disorder will follow the classic symptoms or behaviors pattern. We are all different and that is to be expected. You may want to consider making an effort to let others know what you are feeling.
  Thank you for writing to us with your very helpful insight. You truly are the expert on Schizoid Personality Disorder. If you don't think you fit the classic symptoms you may want another opinion--misdiagnoses happen. Perhaps you would profit from talking about this with your healthcare professional.
  
• July 2, 2009, 2:10 pm - b. What about overachievement? Apart from having most of the features of someone with SPD, I've always felt the need that I've got to be the best at everything I do, and most of the time, have managed it.
• July 11, 2009, 5:39 am - rimor I took the test because my doctor diagnosed me with the Schizoid disorder as well as being extreme INTJ.I'm researching the diagnosis because I was unaware of the word and it's meaning.So, people with the disorder might very well take the test to confirm what their doctor has said about the patient.
• July 17, 2009, 3:24 pm - me I'm 15 and I think that I pretty much have every symptom of this but my therapist thinks that it's just hormones and that I'll grow out of it. She thinks I can't have SPD because I had no severe mental trauma as a child that I can remember. And now everyone insists that I'm a hypochondriac just because I think I have a disease and one stupid therapist told me otherwise... She didn't even mention anything else on it after I brought it up once
• July 31, 2009, 2:41 pm - Dr. Dorothy Many unusual behaviors and even physical anomalies can happen during the hormone drenched teen years. Many of these teen changes will pass with time. I can understand why your therapist was not necessarily in favor of a SPD diagnosis. If you continue to be concerned talk with your parents about a second opinion. Knowledge is power and it often brings reassurance. Let me know how you do.
  Thanks for writing!
• August 14, 2009, 4:04 pm - TKD I was diagnosed SPD when I sought counseling for depression several years ago. However, I agree with some who have suggested that SPD may not be a disorder so much as a lifestyle choice. If I'm content, what does it matter? I've found my niche and plan to stay in it.
• August 14, 2009, 6:45 pm - Della I find it strange that you suggest someone with SPD would not be taking the test. Though it is true, many of us are not particularly purturbed by our behaviour or diagnosis, I do believe that many of us are well aware of our difference, and would like to understand it. I have not, and will not be seeking treatment, but having something to explain, albeit very basically, why I behave the way I do certainly helps me to understand myself a little differently.
• August 22, 2009, 8:13 pm - Dr. Dorothy How you live your life is always a choice. No one can decide what is best for you --except you. However, if the people you love have concerns about your relationship with them--then I would suggest sitting down and discussing the issues. If you have happy, rewarding relationships, a job you enjoy and other interests you are living the good life.
• September 8, 2009, 12:18 pm - Anonymous How do I get my aunt and uncle to understand that I do not care what is going on in their houses and lives as long as it is not abusive - (and I did turn one into Children's services and they thought the referral was founded.)These people think that I sit in my room trying to eavsedrop on them. I sit in my room because their presence is aggrevating. My non-schizoid cousins agree and avoid visiting my house if they are present. People with Schizoid personality disorder are said to not be interested in relationsips with their families. Why does no one consider that their families may be jerks whom no one likes?
• September 19, 2009, 5:48 pm - Dr. Dorothy You certainly have a point there. We do not always have the relatives we would choose. As long as you enjoy other relationships you are probably meeting your need for conversation, fun and support.Take advantage of opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy your life. Home sounds tense...
• October 18, 2009, 2:38 pm - Mariah I as well took the test because my doctor not just diagnosed me as a schizoid but said i am the very definition of it. I am fine with it and think living this life style very freeing. I only took this test as well as others to make sure the diagnose is correct as i feel i have no problems and i am perfectly happy.
• October 20, 2009, 11:39 am - Dr. Dorothy I believe that may be the meaning of happiness--knowing yourself well and being satisfied with who you are and what you have. It is also important to know that change is possible.Should you ever decide you are missing something OR if the people you care most about are asking you to consider adapting your behavior--then perhaps you will decide to re-evaluate your life.
  
  Thank you for visiting and taking our test.
• March 30, 2010, 6:50 am - b I am diagnosed with SPD and major depressive disorder. In treatment. I was curious about this and I found this site. Primarily I have been searching the web to see if there is treatment but have found little. Not that spd bothers me, I was unaware I had it untill I sought treatment for depression and after a year of tests and therapy they broke the news. It's difficult to imagine life different -without my little friend to handle social interaction -or so I think of "him".
• April 1, 2010, 12:30 am - Dr. McCoy If indeed you do have SPD then I am not surprsied that you were not particularly distressed with your situation other than the depression. There are treatments for SPD. This comes from Psychnet.uk : "Group therapy in people with schizoid personality disorder is another potentially effective form of treatment. Although patients may initially withdraw from the therapy group, they often become more participatory as a comfort level is gradually established. Protected by the therapist who must safeguard schizoids from criticism from other group members, patients have the opportunity to conquer fears of intimacy by engaging in communication and making social contact in a supportive atmosphere."
  Somtimes medications are prescribed for anxiety or depression.
  Good luck to you!
  Dr. McCoy
• July 15, 2010, 2:07 pm - Bev Evidently I have Schizoid Personality Disorder... but... I really see nothing "wrong" or "disordered" about being different from the "norm." So... I enjoy being alone, I could care less about having a sexual relationship or any other close relationship with some random person I don't even know... It doesn't bother me in the least is someone is critical of me... as it doesn't make me feel good when someone praises me... because that is the critic or praising person's veiwpoint and doesn't have anything to do with me really if you think about it. I'm a successful engineer... a great mom to three wonderful children... I just happen to be very introverted... very intuitive... very much a thinker... very independant... and my thoughts and feelings are not dependent upon someone else's approval or disproval. I'm my perspective, I see not at all "disordered" about fitting this personality description. It does not cause me discomfort or difficult in life... it is just the way I am... and I'm quite satisfied with my life.
• June 2, 2011, 2:29 am - wolvhund Reading many of the comments here I think that many people identifying themselves as having SPD are really just INTP's or INTJ's on the Myers Brigg Personality Scale. You might be interested in joining a forum with other Schizoids.
• June 2, 2011, 5:27 pm - Dr. Dorothy Thank you for visiting and leaving comments.
  INTJ's and INTP's are some of my favorite people in the world. Most of my good friends are INTJ's. They are also extremely talented folks. If you wish to know more about them, Google INTJ and INTP and learn more.
  Schizoid is a disorder not a personality type. Though, the authors of the DSM IV (the manual we use for diagnoses) are revising many of the disorders and I have read that Schizoid will no longer be listed as a disorder. That should make everyone feel better.
  You are under no circumstances a Disorder--you are a human being with choices, talents, challenges and triumphs--you are unique. I like you!
  As soon as the new DSM comes out I will remove the disorders that are no longer listed.