Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is an cluster c personality disorder marked by poor self-esteem, an intense fear of rejection, and sensitivity to criticism. They often avoid social interactions to avoid these those feelings. Although they would like to interact with others, they tend to avoid doing it out of fear of rejection or being judged. Usually (not always though) they might also have social anxiety or another anxiety disorder
AVPD terms , AVPD types, Diagnostic Criteria
AvPD terms
SP / Safe person - Someone what a person with AvPD feels safe with.
AvPD types
Phobic
Conflicted
Hypersensitive
Self-deserting
Cold-avoidant
Exploitable
Diagnostic Criteria
A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
- Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
- Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked.
- Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed. '
- Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations.
- Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy.
- Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others.
- Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing.