Avoidant Personality Disorder Analysis

In Jonathan Demme’s 1991 production of Silence of The Lambs, the “young F.B.I cadet,” Clarice Starling is assigned to a case involving the interview and observation of the imprisoned cannibal and forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. After witnessing his parents killed at age 6 by German deserters, Lecter and his sister were captured and kept to be slaughtered for food for the deserters. Lecter was able to escape, his sister was not as lucky. Following this tragic event, Lecter was raised in an orphanage and eventually came to the United States. Despite Lecter’s success in school in his later years, he became the perfect example of a “psychopath,” more properly known as someone with antisocial personality disorder.

It known as the anxious and fearful Cluster. It includes avoidant, obsessive-compulsive and dependent personality disorder. They all have a genetic association to anxiety. Individuals who are shy, timid, and socially inhibited characterize the avoidant personality disorder. They have extremely low self-esteem, and see themselves as incapable, inadequate and undesirable. This people want close relationships, but rarely take social risks. As a result, they avoid social situations, which makes it harder for them to meet people. They are also hypersensitive to rejection and negative feedback, becoming even more withdrawn when that happens.

This type of Anxiety Disorder has a direct correlation relating to social situations. A person experiencing this disorder has a chronic fear of other people’s perceptions of them. They are especially likely to avoid any situation where they are being observed by others such as giving presentations or activities that must be performed in front of an audience, large or small. In extreme circumstances where social anxiety disorder exists, a person will avoid social situations all together and will become a “hermit” in their own individual abode. This disorder is impairing to one’s normal life functioning because it often affects a person’s ability to perform the essential duties in a work environment. It also deters them from engaging in typical conversations because the fear of being embarrassed or judged is so extreme (Fleming, 2012).

People with avoidant PD believe that they are unappealing, mediocre, and are constantly afraid of being rejected, criticized or embarrassed. They are not sociable, but if they are certain of being liked they will try to contribute. This disorder is strongly associated with anxiety disorder. It may be caused by parents or peers rejection in childhood or by physical or sexual abuse.

For many individuals is is necessary for their research the persons who are studying and researching the disorders with personality disorders to have better knowledge to become knowledgeable and can become better providers. Personality disorders are full of challenges from different ranges from individuals. There are many various types of personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and paranoid disorder. These are just a few disorders that can be named

People diagnosed with Avoidant Personality Disorder are people who withdraw from social interactions and feel that they are socially incompetent, as well as, being very “thin-skinned” to what people think about them. These people have low-self esteems and experience self-doubt. Consequently, these feelings and reactions lead to distress and impairment in their roles of their social, occupational, and other functions of their lives.

Avoidance is to take few chances on things, has a difficult time being accepted by others and lacks self-confidence. I scored in the medium range and this means that I’m not afraid to make decisions, but I’m not very aggressive at doing it either. Sometimes I second guess myself only because I want to do it right the first time. I’m not afraid of a challenge, and certainly not perfect, but I tend to dissect things more than I should. To improve in this life style, I will have to build up a little more confidence when making mistakes and learning from them would improve this life style for me.

The term shy is used by professionals and laypersons alike to describe people who are socially reticent (Cheek, pp. 105-116). Shy persons often are not considered to have an emotional disorder but rather are considered to be temperamentally reserved. One hypothesis is that shyness might be on a continuum such that those at the upper extreme meet criteria for social anxiety disorder, and those at the lower extreme do not (Zimbardo, pp.

“According to the ICD-10, a patient must have a minimum of four of these traits to be diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder: persistent and pervasive feelings of tension and apprehension, belief hat one is socially inept, personally unappealing or inferior to others, excessive preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations, unwieldiness to become involved with people unless certain of being liked., restrictions in lifestyle because of need to have physical security, avoidance of social or occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.” (According to Millon,

This disorder includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders. Antisocial personality disorder is “a personality disorder marked by a general pattern disregard for and violation of other people’s rights” (Comer, 2009, p.408). There is no treatment that has shown to make a big difference for those suffering from antisocial personality disorder. This disorder is explained from the psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and biological models. Theorists believe that this disorder arises from lack of parental love, learned through modeling, a genuine difficulty in recognizing someone else’s point of view. Borderline personality disorder is “a personality disorder characterized by repeated instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood and by impulsive behavior” (Comer, 2009, p.413). The fear of abandonment plagues the life of those with this disorder, so theorist believe that early parental relationship plays a role. Borderline personality disorder has also been linked to biological abnormalities, such as an overly reactive amygdala and underactive prefrontal cortex. The treatments for borderline personality disorder is psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and psychotropic drug treatment are all treatment options. Histrionic personality disorder is “a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionally and attention seeking” (Comer, 2009, p.419). This disorder is explained by unhealthy relationship with parents who leave a child feeling unloved. Cognitive theorist believe that patients stop viewing the world at large and become self-focused and emotional. The treatment for histrionic personality disorder is therapy to help the patient to stop feeling helpless. Therapist also use psychodynamic therapy and group therapy. Narcissistic personality disorder is “a personality disorder marked by a broad pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration,

Individuals with Avoidant Personality Disorder are subject to inadequacies in social situations that may cause embarrassment, anxiety, or rejection. They are over sensitive to any kind of criticism and they tend to develop some kind of phobia that stems from this disorder. They tend to live alone; however they can manage limited contact with family and friends (Market, 2008). The recommended treatment for this disorder is psychotherapy.

Social phobia or social anxiety disorder (SAD), and Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) are both characterized by having significant interference in social situations. This essay will focus on a cognitive view to explain the similarities and differences between them.

What is the biggest fear of the people with avoidant personality disorder? Avoidant personality disorder the person is persistently tense because he or she is socially inept, unappealing, or inferior, and as a result fears being embarrassed, criticsed or rejected. There are many chacteristic of people with avoidant personality disorder. Because it is wrong how the people live with this disorder basically there going crazy and driving everybody away.

We can also use family origin theory to explain Daniel’s avoidant disorder. Rovers (2004) identified family of origin as “the living unit in which a person has his or her beginnings physiologically, psychologically and emotionally” (Rovers 2004, 44). Also Rovers (2004) explained that it is within the context of one’s family of origins that experiences of one’s current self-images, behavior and style of relating to others is developed. This is applicable to Daniel as his upbringing affected is adult life both psychologically and emotionally. Rovers (2004) further pointed out that “the present day attachment patterns can be discerned and better understood by assessing family of origin experiences” (Rovers 2004, 47)

What exactly is anti-social personality disorder? Anti-social personality disorder is a personality disorder that is a more severe form of the personality disorder social anxiety and it is generally developed during childhood and early