Avoidant Personality Disorder (Mentor) Avoidant Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following: avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection;   is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked;   shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed;   is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations;   is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy;   views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others;   is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing.   Source: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Writers Village University  Character Building Workshop Character Test 1 Character Test 2 Character Test 3 © Copyright 2001-2007 Writopia Inc. All rights reserved