Avoidant Personality Disorder :: essays research papers

Avoidant Personality Disorder 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 Avoidant Personality Disorder display traits such as timidity, shyness, and a withdrawing behavior. Avoidants, people that suffer from Avoidant Personality Disorder, use these traits to hurt others so that they can avoid a close relationship with them. They like to display their hostility in an â€Å"open† manner by insulting people who try to be friendly. The reason for this is so that they can handle feared rejection by becoming rejecting themselves. Avoidants reject other people first so that they are not the first to be rejected. Most of the time avoidants reject people who would have never rejected them in the first place. A victim of this personality disorder is usually affected in one of three ways. First, some avoidants put in considerable time and effort into making themselves attractive to others. They do this so they will at least be liked for their looks, if not for