Avoidant Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Avoidant Personality Disorder

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:

Criterion 1

(1) Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection

– Imagined nightmares of defective performance can lead to job suffering

• In some cases, patients may quit or remain in positions with little challenge

Criterion 2

(2) Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked

– Must be absolutely sure of being liked, which is extremely difficult to accomplish

– Often has an abiding faith in their own defectiveness

• Results in an ability to bring shame on herself simply by existing

• Most of us are insecure about something

– These people’s insecurities constitute their perceived reality

– Thickness of outer shell doesn’t make it less fragile

Criterion 3

(3) Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed

– Even when hypersensitivity is overcome long enough to let someone in, imagined inadequacies result in a fear to be oneself

– When in a relationship the following become very difficult

• Revealing the true self

• Sharing secrets

• Telling partners about actual likes and dislikes

– If someone does like the person, it’s only because they had the wisdom to never show their true self

Criterion 4

(4) Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations

– Wherever they go, they feel people always have expectations of them

• Fear

– Criticism and rejection

– Simply disappointing others

– Rejection doesn’t need to be actually voiced to summon fears

• Just the idea that they are being privately judged is enough to warrant disengagement

Criterion 5

(5) Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy

– Fears of inadequacy make them shrink back

• Allows them to feel smaller and less noticeable than others

– The key is limiting exposure

• By revealing little about themselves, they leave little to be attacked

– Narcissistic and Histrionic personalities surge forward in social situations

• Avoidants inhibit themselves and withdraw

– Avoidants must

• Always be aware of others

• Be sure that others are never aware of them

Criterion 6

(6) Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others

– Make it difficult to achieve potential in life

– Reluctant to risk pushing boundaries

Criterion 7

(7) Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing

– This results in stagnation

• Avoidant personalities refuse to take risks that might leave them open to public view

• Can be highly creative in the privacy of their apartment or become superheroes in their own fantasy lives

– In the real world, they believe it best not to attempt anything that might bring attention to themselves