What does the Bible say about personality disorder?
Personality disorder involves an individual's way of thinking, feeling, and behaving deviating from the expectations of the culture, causing distress or problems functioning, and lasting over time. There are several types of personality disorders. At least two of these are represented in the Bible: borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.
Gomer (Hosea 2-3)
Gomer demonstrates borderline personality disorder. This is characterized by a pattern of instability in personal relationships, intense emotions, poor self-image and impulsivity. “People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense mood swings and feel uncertainty about how they see themselves. Their feelings for others can change quickly, and swing from extreme closeness to extreme dislike. These changing feelings can lead to unstable relationships and emotional pain. People with borderline personality disorder also tend to view things in extremes, such as all good or all bad. Their interests and values can change quickly, and they may act impulsively or recklessly." [1]
Borderline personality disorder is marked by:
Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. “She said, ‘I will go after my lovers, my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink. who give me my food and my water, She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.” (2:5-6)
A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation. Instability (prostitute) to stability (married, motherhood, family) back to instability (prostitution).
Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image—undoubtedly, Gomer’s inability to remain faithful to her husband and care for her children resulted in an unstable self-image.” Persons with this diagnosis experience sudden and dramatic shifts in self-image, goals, and values. This would explain Gomer’s going back and forth between prostitution and family life.
Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, binge eating) prostitution, infidelity while married with three children. “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress” (3:1). These self-destructive acts are usually preceded by threats of separation or rejection or by expectations that the individual assumes increased responsibility. Becoming the mother of three children and the wife of a prophet would have certainly increased her responsibility.
Instability due to a marked reactivity of mood
Chronic feelings of emptiness. Having been sold as a prostitute for “fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley” (3:2) would have contributed to any feelings of emptiness and deflated self-esteem Gomer already experienced.
Additionally. Individuals with borderline personality disorder can demonstrate a pattern of undermining or self-sabotaging when things appear to be going well of at the moment a goal or milestone is about to be reached. We can see this in Gomer, who is rescued from a life of prostitution, loved and married by Hosea and goes on to bear three children, yet attempts to sabotage her good life by running away into what was more comfortable for her, namely prostitution.
Another type of personality disorder represented in the Bible is narcissistic personality disorder. The DSM-5 describes this as “a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy beginning by early adulthood. The person who we observe this in most is Samson.
Samson
Here are the diagnostic criteria for this disorder.
Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g. exaggerates achievements and talents).
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love. Samson likes women. Judges tells us he desired to have a Philistine woman for his wife (14:1-2), spent the night with at least one prostitute (16:1), and “fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah” (16:4), which proved to be his downfall.
Believes that he or she is “special” and unique.(16:5-16)
Require excessive admiration. Samson’s “game” he played with Delilah can be explained by his fantasies of beauty and admiration and his thirst for admiration. Otherwise, he would have walked away from Delilah the moment he realized her true intentions. We should also understand the third criteria here, he believed he was special or unique, i.e. untouchable, no one could overtake him (16:5-16).
Has a sense of entitlement. ““I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife” (Jdg.14:1) “Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them” (15:3).
Is interpersonally exploitative (e.g. takes advantage of others to achieve his/her own ends)
Lacks empathy and is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others. “But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me” (14:3). “So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. Samson said to them, “Since you’ve acted like this, I swear that I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.” He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them” (15:6-8). When confronted about this slaughter, he replied, ““I merely did to them what they did to me” (v.11). There is no indication here that Samson had regard for his wife and father-in-law, who were burned to death by the Philistines.
Is often envious of others or believes they are envious of him.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes. “ “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. If you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes” (14:12-13). “He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home” (14:19).
[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder