What is the main characteristic of Avoidant Personality Disorder?

The main characteristic of Avoidant Personality Disorder is indeed a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. Individuals with this disorder often experience intense anxiety in social situations and may avoid interactions due to a fear of being judged or shamed by others. This pervasive anxiety leads to an overarching sense of inadequacy, where the person may believe they are socially inferior or unappealing. Their hypersensitivity to negative feedback further compounds this issue, making them excessively cautious in their interactions and often leading to avoidance of social opportunities altogether.

This characteristic is critical in distinguishing Avoidant Personality Disorder from other conditions, such as the need for approval (which is more indicative of dependent personality traits) or preoccupations with perfectionism and detail, which are features commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The chronic fear of confronting challenges or new situations is also a symptom, but it is a consequence of the underlying social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy rather than the defining characteristic itself.