Avoidant Personality Disorder :: essays research papers

Avoidant Personality DisorderFrom the mo custodyt a person is born, his or her personalitybegins to aim shape. In infancy, childhood, and by and byadolescence, 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 acquire apersonality disorder. Personality disorders can result inanxiety attacks, depression, and to a certain level, suicide. One of the most unique personality disorders is the AvoidantPersonality Disorder.The DSM-IV (American psychiatric Association, 1994)describes Avoidant Personality Disorder as a persuasive patternof social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, andhypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by earlychildhood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated byfour (or more) of the following traits1.) avoids occupational activities that involvesignificant interpersonal contact becau se of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection2.) is unwilling to get involved with plenty unlesscertain of being correspondingd3.) shows restraint within intimate relationshipsbecause of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed4.) is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected insocial situations5.) is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy6.) views self as socially inept, personally unappealing,or inferior to others7.) is usually reluctant to take personal risks or toengage in nay new activities because they may proveembarrassingAvoidant Personality Disorder usually starts at earlyadulthood. The American Psychiatric Association is convincedthat an equal amount of men and women experience this personalitydisorder. According to one other study by Greenberg &Stravynski, more men are being referred for professional helpthan women (Long). The reason for this is because societyusually expects men to be the initiators in relationships withwomen. People that suffer from Avoidant Personality Disorder scupper traits such as timidity, shyness, and a withdrawingbehavior. Avoidants, people that suffer from AvoidantPersonality Disorder, use these traits to hurt others so thatthey can avoid a close relationship with them. They like todisplay their hostility in an open manner by insulting peoplewho try to be friendly. The reason for this is so that they canhandle feared rejection by becoming rejecting themselves. Avoidants reject other people first so that they are not thefirst to be rejected. Most of the time avoidants reject peoplewho would permit never rejected them in the first place. A victimof this personality disorder is usually affected in one of threeways. First, some avoidants draw in considerable time and effortinto making themselves attractive to others. They do this sothey will at least be liked for their looks, if not for