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Those with avoidant personality disorder are hesitant, tense, fearful, self-deprecating, and exceedingly sensitive to social rejection. They see criticism and mockery everywhere. Their low threshold for fear is coupled with a heightened arousal of the autonomic nervous system, which induces the fight-or-flight response. To prevent the rejection that they anticipate, people with avoidant personalities narrow their interests and range of activities. These behaviors set the stage for social phobia.
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