A 23-year-old graduate student is appointed to be the team leader for a group project. He is so rigid and inflexible about the rubric that other members of the team get frustrated, and the project almost collapses. He insists that each section must be completed and perfected before the next section can be started. The project is eventually finished, but no one on the team will work with him again. Which disorder best reflects this man's behaviors?

Choice A reason: Avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition, fear of rejection, and avoidance of interpersonal interactions, not rigidity or perfectionism. Choice B reason: Narcissistic personality disorder involves grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. While rigid, this individual does not display overt narcissistic traits. Choice C reason: Borderline personality disorder involves emotional instability, impulsivity, and unstable relationships, not the described perfectionism and rigidity. Choice D reason: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control, which interferes with flexibility and efficiency. The student’s insistence on perfecting each section sequentially and inability to compromise demonstrates hallmark OCPD traits.