Which behavior is a hallmark of histrionic personality disorder when a patient is refused a sleeping pill and throws a book at the nurse?

Which behavior is a hallmark of histrionic personality disorder when a patient is refused a sleeping pill and throws a book at the nurse?

• A. Regression
• B. Acting out
• C. Projection
• D. Denial

Answer: (B)

Acting out is expressing distress through dramatic, impulsive actions rather than through verbal processing or internal coping. In histrionic personality disorder, individuals seek attention and sympathy, so an immediate, theatrical reaction to a denied request—like throwing a book at the nurse—externalizes feelings in a way designed to draw notice and elicit an emotional response. This fits acting out because the behavior is impulsive, dramatic, and aimed at getting attention. By contrast, regression would be a return to childish behavior, projection would involve blaming someone else for one’s feelings, and denial would be refusing to acknowledge reality.

Acting out is expressing distress through dramatic, impulsive actions rather than through verbal processing or internal coping. In histrionic personality disorder, individuals seek attention and sympathy, so an immediate, theatrical reaction to a denied request—like throwing a book at the nurse—externalizes feelings in a way designed to draw notice and elicit an emotional response. This fits acting out because the behavior is impulsive, dramatic, and aimed at getting attention. By contrast, regression would be a return to childish behavior, projection would involve blaming someone else for one’s feelings, and denial would be refusing to acknowledge reality.