avoidant personality disorder is under cluster c (the anxious fearful cluster)
diagnostic criteria
.avoiding social, occupational, or interpersonal activities due to a fear of being criticized, disapproved of, or rejected
.being reluctant to get involved with people unless they are sure they will be liked
.feeling inadequate and inhibited in new social situations
.believing they are inferior or unappealing to others
.being reluctant to take personal risks or try new activities because they may be embarrassed
.being preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations
.being reserved in close relationships because they fear ridicule or humiliation
assessing themselves as socially unskilled, unappealing, or inferior to others
subtypes
hypersensitive, phobic, conflicted, self deserting, cold avoidant, exploitable