A male description - viable?

I found this description of a male histrionic on wikipedia, which is paraphrased from a description by Otto Kernberg:

Males with HPD usually present problems of identity crisis, disturbed relationships, and lack of impulse control. They have antisocial tendencies and are inclined to exploit physical symptoms as a method of false control. These men are emotionally immature (although they tend to believe the exact opposite), dramatic (although many are adept at covering it up), and shallow (although they tend to believe their feelings are so deep that no other single person could ever understand). Men with HPD may dwell on their own emotions and create a false sense of reality, effectively convincing themselves of whatever they need to believe to feel comfortable in their relationships. HPD males with antisocial tendencies shift between periods of isolation and those of extreme social conquest (each shift can last a matter of days to periods lasting several years). They may require isolated retreats in order to obtain a comfortable level of understanding and acceptable functioning. HPD antisocial males are dependent upon no one in particular, but crave the dependence of others. Although males often have chameleon-like social skills (similar to HPD females), they tend to have trouble keeping lengthy friendships afloat as their paranoia (real and imagined) may eventually lead to a near complete and permanent disposal of all interpersonal relationships at a given time, effectively eliminating any emotional responsibility and accountability. They tend to genuinely search for intimacy (many believe in "the one") while remaining unable to regulate their perceived level of intimacy for any given interpersonal relationship, making it very difficult to build anything other than turbulent relations. Males with HPD may believe in the supernatural, such as fortune telling or telepathy, including the belief that there are many hidden messages and notions in public works that are specifically meant for them. When HPD antisocial males believe they are being manipulated, they may morph into sociopathic relations with their perceived enemies, yet remain overtly loyal to perceived friends. HPD men are oftentimes intensely driven by their quest to conquer life, despite having no real sense of direction or control, resulting in frequent changes of overly passionate interests. Both men and women with HPD engage in disinhibited behavior, such as promiscuity and substance abuse.

My question is, is this description accurate? Is it valid? I ask because general descriptions of histrionics (like the one stickied on this forum) make them seem like social butterflies with no self-awareness. Also the descriptions are too obviously biased toward females. I also ask because much of this description matches my own self-descriptions, especially the next-to-last sentence:

"HPD men are often times intensely driven by their quest to conquer life, despite having no real sense of direction or control, resulting in frequent changes of overly passionate interests."

which is a very salient, constant part of my personality to me and is a real problem for me in my hobbies and career choices. It's also something other people notice quite readily in me.

I just want to know if this description can be trusted. I don't want to lead myself down an incorrect path if it isn't.

Thanks.

awwwww GODDAMNIT ALL TO HELL! I have never seen that description of HPD....but it fits me almost too much....

This fits my HPD-ex (female) to a tee. I'll return later to go over the specifics.

There is quite a bit of variability in the way HPD manifests in individuals with regard to specific behaviors. I now tend think about it in terms of a mixture of cluster B traits with some of the HPD primary tendencies being prevalent most of the time. This chart (which I posted previously) from Millon provides perspective on the cluster B mixture potential for histrionics. The DSM focuses on differential diagnosis and comorbidity. I believe thinking in terms of the mixture, re the chart, is more practical. The legacy of the histrionic personality is linked to the notion of the wandering uterus and therefore exclusively female. It is thought that histrionic males have often been diagnosed as antisocial or narcissistic.

The only thing I see in the description from wikipedia that conflicts greatly with my own experience (with female hpd) and millon's chart, is where it says "they are dependent upon no one in particular." Mentioned in the wikipedia description and conspicuously absent from the millon chart is any mention of promiscuity or somatization. Below the chart is a link to an article on infantile personality and somatization by Ruesch which I find fascinating.





Ruesch article
(right-click, select save or download)

Iodide wrote:...
Males ... abuse.

My question is, is this description accurate?

Seems pretty succinct. You can rely on that. Good stuff, good post!