What are the characteristics of a person diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder? How do cognitive therapists interpret this disorder?

Key terms and concepts that may be included in student responses:
▪ Characteristics-extreme anxiety about being criticized by others, avoid interactions in which there is any possibility of being criticized, might choose occupations that are socially isolated; restrained, nervous, and hypersensitive to signs of being evaluated or criticized; tend to be depressed and lonely, feel unworthy of relationships
▪ Cognitive theory-people develop dysfunctional beliefs about being worthless as a result of rejection by important others early in life, tend to discount any positive feedback they receive from others, believe that other people are simply being nice or do not see how incompetent they really are