Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc) Practice Exam

The correct answer is Borderline Personality Disorder, which is characterized by intense emotions, unstable relationships, and significant feelings of emptiness. Individuals with this disorder often experience a profound fear of abandonment, which can lead them to engage in frantic efforts to avoid being left alone. This fear is often rooted in difficulties with self-image and identity, leading to fluctuating emotions and severe mood swings.

The sense of emptiness that individuals experience can manifest as a chronic feeling of boredom or a lack of fulfillment in life, further exacerbating their relational instability. This emotional turmoil contributes to behaviors that may seek to fill that emptiness or alleviate the anxiety surrounding potential abandonment.

In contrast, Narcissistic Personality Disorder primarily involves a sense of grandiosity and a need for admiration, with a lack of empathy for others, which doesn't align with the themes of emptiness and fear of abandonment. Histrionic Personality Disorder is marked by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior but does not focus on the constant sense of emptiness. Lastly, Dependent Personality Disorder features a pervasive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors, but it does not typically emphasize the same level of emotional turmoil or fear of abandonment found in Borderline Personality Disorder.