What is a common characteristic of cluster B personality disorders?

Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior. Individuals with these disorders often display intense emotional responses, which can manifest as unpredictable moods, heightened emotional expressions, and a tendency to react strongly to perceived threats or frustrations. This emotional intensity is a hallmark of disorders in this cluster, which includes borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders.

The intense emotional responses found in cluster B disorders can significantly impact interpersonal relationships and social functioning. For example, a person with borderline personality disorder may experience extreme fluctuations in mood and may react with intense anger or despair over real or perceived abandonment, exemplifying the distinguishing features of this cluster.

In contrast, the other options relate to different behaviors that may not align specifically with the emotional and dramatic characteristics unique to cluster B. For example, high social avoidance and severe avoidance of social situations are more closely associated with anxiety-related disorders, while high distrust of others may be more characteristic of cluster A personality disorders, such as paranoid personality disorder. Therefore, the defining characteristic of intense emotional responses distinctly captures the essence of cluster B personality disorders.