Avoidant Personality (AvPD)
DSM: 301.82 ICD: F60.6In this series, we use a critical lens to discuss this personality’s late origins in the 1960s and further discuss how sociopolitical culture influences personalities across generations. We look at the 6 subtypes according to Millon and also the unique attachment style with this personality. Looking at the DSM criteria, we also explore the nuanced differences between this personality and schizoid presentations.
Ep 48: The 4 Attachment Styles & Avoidant Personality
In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack attachment and its relationship with avoidant personality disorder. We explore the four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, discussing how these styles manifest in adult relationships. We highlight the nuances of avoidant personality disorder, suggesting that individuals may present as avoidantly attached but have underlying anxious tendencies. We end by discussing some interesting research on adult attachment and coregulation with a partner, suggesting that attachment is fluid and can change depending on the relationship homeostasis.
Doc Bok
Doc Fish
Are Avoidant Personalities Avoidantly Attached?
Avoidant Personality Disorder involves wanting to be close to others but fearing rejection, so they can avoid being social. How does this impact their attachment? Are those with Avoidant Personality Disorder even avoidantly attached? Let’s dive into attachment and parse it out!
Doc Fish
Ep 47: Avoidant Personality | The 6 Subtypes
In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) dive into Avoidant Personality Disorder, exploring Dr. Theodore Millon’s six subtypes. We discuss a few interesting historical names before jumping into the characteristics of mild (Anxiously & Imaginatively shy); moderate (Hypersensitively & Phobicly Reticent); and severe (Conflicted & Self-Deserting) subtypes. Our conversation also critiques Millon’s work, questioning the distinctiveness of avoidant traits compared to other personality disorders, and we invite listeners/viewers to share their thoughts and opinions.
Doc Bok
Doc Fish
Avoidant Personality Subtypes (Millon)
Join me, as I dive into Millon’s 6 avoidant subtypes - a controversial personality that is hypersensitive, fearful, and (you guessed it!) avoidant of others.
Doc Fish
Ep 46: Did the DSM Get it Wrong? | A New Perspective on Avoidant Personality
In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, licensed clinical psychologist Doc Bok unpacks the historical context of Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), exploring the ongoing debate about its classification in the DSM. This episode discusses the contributions of Theodore Millon, the controversies that arose during the introduction of APD, and the implications of trauma and sociopolitical culture on personality development. The episode concludes with proposing alternative classification systems, including the Enneagram, the psychodynamic phobic character, and avoidant personality as a problematic trait versus a disorder.
Doc Bok
Did the DSM Get it Wrong?
Avoidant Personality Disorder is a pretty new personality disorder, being coined in the 1960s. There’s still controversy surrounding its existence in the DSM…so let’s look at the research and explore whether or not the DSM got it wrong!
Doc Fish
Ep 45: Schizoid Personality's Close Cousin: Avoidant in the DSM
In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the DSM’s Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPd), exploring its hotly debated history, the DSM criteria, and its overlap with social anxiety. We discuss the developmental aspects of AvPd, the challenges of low self-esteem with this disorder, and how it can cause problems in employment. We end with our own unfiltered thoughts on whether or not we think it should be a diagnosis, questioning the zeitgeist in which it was coined, the lack of historical research, and its overlap with multiple other personality disorders.
Doc Bok
Doc Fish
Avoidant Personality Disorder in the DSM
Avoidant personality disorder is relatively new (‘80s) and is becoming more common, but it can be pretty complicated to understand. It’s characterized by fear of rejection and feelings of inadequacy - a difficult, lonely place to be. Join me as I explore what the DSM-5-TR says about avoidant personality disorder.
Doc Fish
Ep 39: Schizoid vs Avoidant Personality | What's the Difference?
In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) compare and contrast avoidant and schizoid personalities. While schizoid and avoidant personality disorders have overlapping traits but distinct characteristics, personality psychologists have argued about it for decades. In this episode, we explore the definitions of each disorder and ongoing debates surrounding if these disorders are the same thing or not. We end by sharing our thoughts about whether schizoid personality and avoidant personality are the same or different, while giving a critical opinion about the DSM’s limiting definitions of both.
Doc Bok
Doc Fish
Schizoid Personality Disorder vs. Avoidant Personality Disorder
Ever wonder why schizoid personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder seem to overlap so much but are also so different? What in the world happened to create a confusion about these two personalities that has lasted over 50 years?! In this blog, I discuss relevant history, how schizoid and avoidant split, and the current DSM, before comparing and contrasting schizoid and avoidant.
Doc Fish