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Article: Avoidant personality disorder
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Avoidant personality disorder
Definition
Avoidant personality disorder is one of several
personality disorders
listed in the newest edition of the standard reference guide to mental disorders
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
, also known as the
DSM-IV-TR
. It is characterized by marked avoidance of both social situations and close interpersonal relationships due to an excessive fear of rejection by others. Persons with this disorder exhibit feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and mistrust toward others.
Description
People who are diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder desire to be in relationships with others but lack the skills and confidence that ...