Causes of Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder is a complicated mental problem whose exact causes are still unknown. But long term research and analysis have pointed out certain factors which have potential to create such imbalance in normal human personality development. These factors are either inherited or already present in childhood’s environment which continuously break down his personality and make him appear as a broken personality in his adulthood. All these possible factors which can result in developing avoidant personality disorder are discussed here to prevent them as much as possible.

1- Inherited Temperamental Factors

Temperamental factors are considered the very first cause behind the development of avoidant personality disorder. These temperamental factors are inherited through parents or family which proves the presence of genetic factor in this mental problem. Long term research over the causes of avoidant personality disorder also revealed that this mental illness run in families and those having family history of this disorder are more prone to develop it as compared to general population. .

2- Childhood Traumatic Experience

Another factor which can results in such disturbed personality image in adulthood is childhood traumatic experience. Such experience can happen in the form of childhood physical abuse as well. Research also proved that in 61% of avoidant personality disorder there was present the proof of childhood abuse which has caused such abnormal condition.

3- Parental Overprotection or Negligence

Home environment and parental role is another very important factor which cannot be ignored when it comes to healthy development of any child. Extremities involved in parental roles in the form of over protection or complete negligence often results in poor personality development of their children and the case of avoidant personality disorder also comes under these abnormalities caused by disturbed home environment.

4- Poor Social Skills with Weak Personality Image

In some cases low self esteem, cowardice, poor social skills and unappealing personality image also become a cause to develop an extreme sense of inferiority complex which further aggravates with the passage of time and continuous rejection or disapproval and finally assumes the form of an avoidant personality disorder.

All these causes are reported to create disturbance in human personality and result in developing abnormal state of mind in early adulthood. Avoidant personality disorder is also an outcome of disturbed personality developmental process which hampers intellectual development and confidence building process in a person required to live a happy and balanced personal and social life.