Avoidant Personality Disorder Flashcards

Flashcards on Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A defining feature of avoidant personality disorder is the conflict of longing for intimacy versus the fear of vulnerability that naturally ensues in a close relationship with another

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

Core Beliefs

Long standing dysfunctional beliefs that interfere with social functioning

Schemas

I’m inadequate, I’m defective, I’m unlikeable, I’m different, I don’t fit it

Underlying Assumptions

If this person treats me so badly, then I must be a bad person, If I don’t have friends then I must be different or defective, If my parents don’t like me, how could anyone?

Symptoms

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 unusually reluctant to take personal risks

   or to engage in any new activities because

   they may prove embarrassing which results in stagnation.

Fear of Rejection

Rejection is perceived as being caused solely by

personal deficiencies

• “He rejected me because I’m inadequate”

Self-Criticism

Avoidant patients experience a string of self-critical

automatic thoughts

• Happen in social situations as well as anticipated

encounters