Self-defeating personality disorder
Self-defeating personality disorder was a proposed personality disorder. As a descriptor for "Other personality disorder" it was included in the DSM-III in 1980. It was discussed in an appendix of the DSM-III-R in 1987, but was never formally admitted into the manual. The distinction was not seen as clinically valuable because of its significant overlap with other personality disorders. Both the DSM-III and DSM-III-R separated the condition from sexual masochism.
It was entirely excluded from the DSM-IV. Since the DSM-5, the diagnoses other specified / unspecified personality disorder have mostly replaced its use.
Diagnosis
Definition proposed in DSM III-R for further review
Self-defeating personality disorder is:Millon's subtypes
Theodore Millon has proposed four subtypes of masochist. Any individual masochist may fit into none, one or more of the following subtypes:| Subtype | Features | Traits |
| Virtuous masochist | Including histrionic features | Proudly unselfish, self-denying, and self-sacrificial; self-ascetic; weighty burdens are judged noble, righteous, and saintly; others must recognize loyalty and faithfulness; gratitude and appreciation expected for altruism and forbearance. |
| Possessive masochist | Including negativistic features | Bewitches and ensnares by becoming jealous, overprotective, and indispensable; entraps, takes control, conquers, enslaves, and dominates others by being sacrificial to a fault; control by obligatory dependence. |
| Self-undoing masochist | Including avoidant features | Is "wrecked by success"; experiences "victory through defeat"; gratified by personal misfortunes, failures, humiliations, and ordeals; eschews best interests; chooses to be victimized, ruined, disgraced. |
| Oppressed masochist | Including depressive features | Experiences genuine misery, despair, hardship, anguish, torment, illness; grievances used to create guilt in others; resentments vented by exempting from responsibilities and burdening "oppressors". |