Avoidant Personality Disorder

Essay by alishag April 2005

download word file, 4 pages 5.0 1 reviews

From the moment a person is born, his or her personality

begins to take shape. In infancy, childhood, and later

adolescence, the individual explores a multitude of behaviors.

Of all the behaviors, or personalities, the person experiences,

one of them will stick with them until the day they die.

Unfortunately, each specific personality also contain a

personality disorder. Personality disorders can result in

anxiety attacks, depression, and to a certain level, suicide.

One of the most unique personality disorders is the Avoidant

Personality Disorder.

The DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994)

describes Avoidant Personality Disorder as: a persuasive pattern

of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and

hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early

childhood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by

four (or more) of the following traits:

1.) avoids occupational activities that involve

significant interpersonal contact because of fears of

criticism, disapproval, or rejection

2.) is unwilling to get involved with people unless

certain of being liked

3.) shows restraint within intimate relationships

because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed

4.) is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in

social situations

5.) is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because

of feelings of inadequacy

6.) views self as socially inept, personally unappealing,

or inferior to others

7.) is usually reluctant to take personal risks or to

engage in nay new activities because they may prove

embarrassing

Avoidant Personality Disorder usually starts at early

adulthood. The American Psychiatric Association is convinced

that an equal amount of men and women experience this personality

disorder. According to one other study by Greenberg &

Stravynski, more men are being referred for professional help

than women (Long). The reason for this is because society

usually expects men to be the initiators in relationships with

women.

People that suffer from...