Avoidant Personality (AVP), or Avoidant Personality Disorder as classified by the DSM- (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), is characterized as hypersensitivity to rejection due to a deep sense of inadequacy (Fariba and Sapra, 2021). AVP can be genetic or the result of childhood physical and emotional abuse (RETTEW et al., 2003). People with this disorder have a longing for a meaningful connection to others but their intense fear of rejection, leads to maladaptive behaviour patterns that ensures their isolation and continued emotional harm (Fariba and Sapra, 2021). It is a doom loop that is hard to break until an AVP individual learns to embrace positive feedback and reject negative self-talk.
Individuals with AVP will misinterpret any feedback or even differing points of view, as a personal attack and react with anger (De Almería et al., 2015). Anger is a self-destructive behaviour that can be the long-term effect of childhood trauma. Children who have been physically and emotionally abused learn a sense of powerlessness that causes frustration with the world around them and they struggle to regulate their emotions (Anon, n.d.). Childhood trauma can cause individuals to have a negative view of themselves and the world (De Almería et al., 2015). Anger will provide a temporary release from stress for individuals with AVPD, however this aggressive behaviour causes them to be rejected (Thomson and Kjaervik, 2024). At the core of AVP is self-criticism, a belief that they are inherently flawed and unappealing (RETTEW et al., 2003). This self-criticism can lead to a lack of hygiene and self-care which causes people to reject them (Fariba and Sapra, 2021).
Growth comes from positive feedback and working towards positive change. With talk therapy you can figure out criticisms that are helpful and those that are not. With individuals who suffer with AVP it is the truth that they are most afraid of that will ultimately set them free.
References
Anon, (n.d.). Childhood Trauma May Lead to Anger in Adulthood – Northlake Behavioral Health. [online] Available at: https://northlakebh.org/childhood-trauma-may-lead-to-anger-in-adulthood/ [Accessed 7 Jun. 2024].
De Almería, U., Hageman, E., Francis, T., Jp, A., Field and Carr, A. (2015). International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy. Links between Childhood Experiences and Avoidant Personality Disorder Symptomatology International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, [online] 15(1), pp.101–116. Available at: https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/560/56038720006.pdf.
Fariba, K. and Sapra, A. (2021). Avoidant Personality Disorder. [online] PubMed. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559325/.
RETTEW, D.C., ZANARINI, M.C., YEN, S., GRILO, C.M., SKODOL, A.E., SHEA, M.T., MCGLASHAN, T.H., MOREY, L.C., CULHANE, M.A. and GUNDERSON, J.G. (2003). Childhood Antecedents of Avoidant Personality Disorder: A Retrospective Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(9), pp.1122–1130. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000070250.24125.5f.
Thomson, N.D. and Kjaervik, S.L. (2024). Exploring the Nexus: Personality Disorders and Their Impact on Violent Extremism, Radicalism, and Activism. Journal of Personality Disorders, 38(4), pp.350–367. doi:https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2024.38.4.350.