Is it the same as avoidant attachment?

No—attachment style describes relationship patterns; AvPD is a diagnosable disorder.

Is introversion a form of AvPD?

No. Introverts are comfortable alone; people with AvPD want connection but avoid it out of fear and suffer for it.

Avoidant personality disorder

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 26, 2026

Avoidant personality disorder is a lasting pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism. It leads people to avoid close relationships and new activities even though they want connection.

Contents

1. Origins of the concept
2. Criteria and the overlap with social anxiety
3. Causes and treatment
4. FAQ
5. References

Origins of the concept

American psychologist Theodore Millon described the type in 1969: people who want connection but "actively withdraw" for fear of rejection. That set them apart from schizoid people, who are simply indifferent to relationships. The concept entered DSM-III in 1980. Today DSM-5-TR places it in Cluster C, the anxious and fearful group, alongside dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Diagnosis requires four or more of seven criteria:

avoiding jobs with lots of interpersonal contact
getting involved only when sure of being liked
holding back in intimate relationships for fear of shame
preoccupation with criticism in social situations
inhibition in new relationships
seeing oneself as inferior
exaggerating the risks of new activities

It overlaps heavily with social anxiety disorder and often co-occurs with it. The core of AvPD is a pervasive self-image of inadequacy rather than fear of specific situations. It is distinct from the mood swings and impulsivity of borderline personality disorder.

Causes and treatment

A behaviorally inhibited temperament, childhood rejection or ridicule, and insecure attachment are thought to combine. Cognitive behavioral therapy has shown benefit by combining graded exposure with work on beliefs like "rejection would be unbearable." So has schema therapy, and SSRIs may help with co-occurring anxiety or depression. Self-compassion training can soften harsh self-criticism. Note that AvPD is not the same as the popular idea of an "avoidant attachment style."

FAQ

Is it the same as avoidant attachment?: No—attachment style describes relationship patterns; AvPD is a diagnosable disorder.
Is introversion a form of AvPD?: No. Introverts are comfortable alone; people with AvPD want connection but avoid it out of fear and suffer for it.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR.
Millon, T. (1981). Disorders of Personality: DSM-III, Axis II. Wiley.
Weinbrecht, A., et al. (2016). Avoidant personality disorder: a current review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 18(3), 29.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '회피성 성격장애' on CampusDown →

Social anxiety disorderWhat social anxiety disorder is, DSM-5-TR criteria, how it differs from shyness, the Clark and Wells cognitive model and NICE-recommended CBT.🧠 Psychology Borderline personality disorderWhat borderline personality disorder is, its DSM-5-TR features such as unstable relationships, self-image and emotions and impulsivity, contributing factors, dialectical behaviour therapy and other treatments, recovery and helplines.🧠 Psychology Cognitive-Behavioral TheoryCognitive-behavioral theory (CBT) in broad view: behavior therapy techniques, the cognitive turn with Ellis and Beck, Meichenbaum's self-instructional training and stress inoculation, third-wave therapies (ACT, DBT, MBCT), and evidence.🧠 Psychology Personality TheoriesAn overview of personality theories: Freud's psychoanalysis, trait approaches from Allport and Eysenck to the Big Five, humanistic theories of Rogers and Maslow, and Bandura's social-cognitive view, with comparisons and critiques.🧠 Psychology Self-compassionWhat self-compassion means in Kristin Neff's model—self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness—how it differs from self-esteem, research on lower anxiety and higher motivation, and simple exercises to try.🧠 Psychology

Latest ArticlesView all ›

New guides for college study and assignments (Korean)

This article was last updated on October 26, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.