Organization and orderliness are usually positive characteristics. Nonetheless, obsession with maintaining a perfect and controlled environment may have a negative impact on a person’s mental, emotional, and social health. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, or OCPD characteristics, include an insatiable need for order and precision. Symptoms of OCPD overlap with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); however, there are distinct differences. Those with OCPD have a strong urge to regulate and control the external factors around them to conform to their ideals. They are oblivious to their actions and lack awareness, which can affect their ability to form and maintain relationships.
Statistics report that males are almost twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with this personality disorder. Furthermore, two to nine percent of the population suffers from OCPD, making it one of the most common personality disorders.
The root of OCPD is not yet understood. However, researchers hypothesize that both genetics and traumatic events during childhood and different upbringings may contribute to the development of OCPD. Some individuals report having symptoms of OCPD as far back as their childhoods. Also, OCPD is more likely to be diagnosed in those whose OCD is severe. This disorder can also be comorbid with other mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Unwillingness to Delegate Work
Individuals with OCPD often are unwilling to collaborate or entrust tasks to others unless they can guarantee that everything will be done correctly, according to their perception. Delegating tasks means handing over responsibility for a job to someone else. However, they are inclined to think that no one can do the job correctly. They need to establish clear expectations when delegating tasks because they focus on micromanaging.
They may openly convey their rigid adherence to their own moral and ethical values, with little opportunity for understanding others. This behavior results in frustration and confusion. In addition, they often collapse under the stress of deviation from the rigid parameters they set for themselves. Due to their inability to maintain emotional control in social situations, they may appear hostile and explode in rage or irritation at random times. They may have a terrible reputation for being overbearing and domineering because they insist that everyone around them follow their strict interpretation of what is proper.
Additionally, they could try to force their standards of conduct and morals on others. Their unrealistic standards are believed to develop throughout the formative years of adolescence. Furthermore, those who suffer from OCPD seldom examine themselves, leading to further misunderstanding and frustrations.