It is likely that, throughout our lives, we will encounter people who we observe certain difficulties in their way of relating, speaking with others, and establishing intimate bonds. Perhaps they are simply shy and introverted people whose tastes are more focused on enjoying quieter activities. However, we may be faced with an individual defined as socially withdrawn.
This type of personality arouses a lot of curiosity in the psychological community as well as in society in general, its enormous introversion generates a certain mystery and it is difficult to carry out studies on the behavior of these individuals. Perhaps, we may believe that we are socially withdrawn and that is why we want to confirm our suspicions and get to know ourselves a little more. In this Psychology-Online article, we will try to resolve the question of “What is a social withdrawal like?“.
The withdrawn personality
Many experts throughout history have defined the withdrawn or inhibited personality as an individual’s tendency to live in their inner world, avoid social relationships and enjoy solitude. Being introverted is not a bad thing, we all have a certain level of inhibited personality, however, there is a big difference between personality tendency and .
“What is social withdrawal like?“It is a question that we can ask ourselves on occasion since they are people who arouse a certain curiosity, the fact of not interacting with practically anyone generates doubts and even a bit of mystery. A withdrawn person, in addition to being shy, is that person who He lives a retired and/or isolated life from society or social interaction. Just the thought of relating generates anxiety and deep discomfort and he avoids it at all costs.
The socially withdrawn, by not establishing ties with practically anyone, does not usually express his feelings or emotions. They tend to be easily offended since they have a low tolerance for criticism and frustration. By not accepting any type of opinion, it is very difficult for them to change and improve.
People are social beings by nature and our temperament is modified through interactions with others, which is why socially withdrawn people do not generate good personality references, they are insecure and are not capable of establishing a good belief system. This insecurity generates a lot of concern about his own behavior when he is socially withdrawn and this is reflected in the few social interactions he has; these interactions are usually with people who are very similar to him and highly trustworthy. If they are not people he trusts, a withdrawn individual may live with anxiety throughout the entire interaction.
By experiencing so many negative connotations during social gatherings, these people generate discomfort just by thinking about it. As time goes by, and after the accumulation of anxious experiences, social withdrawal begins to generate a tendency to avoid. If this trend develops without control, we may be talking about a avoidant personality disorder.
Avoidant personality disorder
When the avoidant personality results in a clinical case, we are talking about a personality disorder. This disorder is included in the DSM (the diagnostic manual par excellence in Psychology) and consists of the following characteristics or diagnostic criteria1:
A general pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inferiority, and negative evaluation, beginning in early adulthood and occurring in various contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following items:
- Avoid jobs or activities that involve significant interpersonal contact due to fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
- He is reluctant to get involved with people if he is not sure they will be liked.
- Demonstrates repression in intimate relationships due to fear of being shamed or ridiculed.
- You are worried about the possibility of being criticized or rejected in social situations.
- He is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inferiority.
- He sees himself as socially inept, personally uninteresting, or inferior to others.
- He is extremely reluctant to take personal risks or engage in new activities because they may be compromising.
This personality disorder can be very limiting for a person and they may need help from a professional to be able to reestablish normal ties with the people around them. Although there is no definitive cure for this condition, behaviors can be developed that adapt the person to their environment and reduce your anxiety level in the face of social interactions.
Avoidant behaviors
This type of behavior is very characteristic of those who are socially withdrawn; avoidant behaviors are defined by being those whose objective the omission of some stimulus or situationNormally this situation produces some type of anxiety or worry for the socially withdrawn.
Examples of avoidant behaviors
- Do not go to class or abandon studies directly due to fear or insecurities when interacting with your classmates.
- Do not take public transport
- Avoid going out for a drink with your friends
- Not leaving the house for fear that something bad will happen
- Avoid a personal commitment
- Avoid conflicts or discussions even if you have a different opinion
The avoidant personality in love
A very important area of social relationships is based on the affectionate interactions we have with others. A socially withdrawn person also sees their love life affected due to the personality disorder.
The avoidant personality in love It is characterized by being very sensitive to criticism and the feelings that are generated around the individual. This hypersensitivity generates many insecurities and avoidance behaviors. At the beginning of the relationship, it is normal to avoid dates and meetings in crowded places.
His way of expressing affection is also distorted; by not establishing many interactions, he may not fully understand social norms and expressions of love. In any case, if we find ourselves with an avoidant personality in love, we must be sure to take the step and know what we are facing. There are many, however, in this case it is important to be patient at first and understand the reason for most of their behaviors.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. Pan-American Medical Editorial, 2014.