American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam

Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors. Individuals with this disorder often fear separation and exhibit helplessness. Their emotional responses tend to be driven more by anxiety and fear of abandonment than by aggression or hostility. Consequently, they are less likely to engage in violent behavior, as their primary focus is on maintaining relationships and avoiding conflict.

In contrast, other personality disorders listed, such as borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic, may exhibit more intense emotional responses that could lead to aggression or violent behavior in certain contexts. For example, individuals with borderline personality disorder may experience emotional dysregulation that can lead to impulsive and sometimes aggressive actions, especially during interpersonal conflicts. Histrionic personality disorder is associated with attention-seeking behaviors, which can also manifest in dramatic and potentially aggressive ways to elicit attention. Narcissistic personality disorder might involve aggression when individuals feel insulted or threatened, particularly when their self-esteem is challenged.

Therefore, in terms of likelihood to exhibit violent behavior, dependent personality disorder stands out as the least likely among the options provided.