ISSN 2520-6265 (print)
ISSN 2520-6273 (online)
WITH HISTRIONIC PERSONS
Author:
D. K. Korolov, PhD (Candidate of Psychological Sciences),
Associate Professor (docent) Social Psychology Department
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
ORCID: 0000-0002-9685-5286
E-mail: assessment@i.ua
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/upj.2025.2(24).6
Article Information
Issue: 2(24) 2025, pages: 128-149
Language: Ukrainian
Received: 11.09.2025
1st Revision: 19.09.2025
Accepted: 25.09.2025
Research on histrionic personality has the longest and most extensive history among personality disorders. Clinical observations have gradually accumulated regarding the specifics of romantic relationships and sexuality of these individuals. There are also some quantitative studies of the histrionic personality type, but they do not focus on studying its intimate relationships.
Romantic relationships are a primary area, where histrionic personality dynamics manifest. Histrionic individuals have high motivation for relationships, the ability to present themselves as an attractive partner successfully, fast, unstable and extremely emotional relationships, demands for very high involvement of the partner, unrealistic expectations, which leads to dissatisfaction with the current relationship and attempts to find alternatives, sexual problems hidden behind pseudo-hypersexuality, a tendency to choose unsuitable partners, such as “bad boys”. At the level of personality disorder, histrionic individuals are successful in initiating relationships, but are unable to maintain them. However, individuals on the histrionic spectrum should be distinguished from a completely normal psychological type: bright, cheerful, emotional, dramatically expressive, more prone to impulsive actions than usual, lively in interaction, sensitive in interpersonal interaction.
Knowledge of histrionic dynamics in romantic relationships is useful not only for professionals providing psychological help, but also for the partners of histrionic individuals, as well as for them themselves. Practitioners and romantic partners of histrionic individuals should consider the healthy aspects of this psychological type as a personal resource and promote using it as a basis for building relationships.
Key words: relationships, romantic relationships, intimate relationships, personality disorders, histrionic personality disorder, histrionic personality, histrionic dynamics.
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