Question

Nicole is socially inhibited and oversensitive to negative evaluation. She was thinking about a career in nursing, but she changed her mind because she believes the doctors would criticize her and patients would reject her. She has never been on a date because she feels socially inept and unappealing; she avoids meeting new people because anything less than immediate, unconditional acceptance causes her anxiety. Just yesterday she was invited to go on a kayak trip, but she didn't go because she was worried she would embarrass herself. Which of the following diagnoses accounts for Nicole's personality?

dependent personality disorder
avoidant personality disorder
schizotypal personality disorder Difficulty: ModerateAPA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Answer 1

Nicole's behavior suggests she has Avoidant Personality Disorder, as her fear of criticism and rejection leads her to avoid social interactions and doubt her own social abilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nicole's symptoms - being socially inhibited, oversensitive to negative evaluation, avoiding social interactions due to fear of rejection, and anxiety caused by less than immediate acceptance - are indicative of Avoidant Personality Disorder. This disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. People with Avoidant Personality Disorder are extremely anxious about being criticized by others, leading them to avoid social situations where they may be judged or rejected, despite a desire for affection and acceptance.