Which personality disorder is characterized by hypersensitive to rejection and avoidance of social settings?

• A. Avoidant Personality Disorder
• B. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
• C. Dependent Personality Disorder
• D. Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how fear of negative evaluation shapes behavior. Hypersensitivity to rejection and avoidance of social settings point to a pattern where the person so fears criticism or disapproval that they withdraw from social interactions, yet still long for connection. This combination—intense fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy, and deliberate avoidance of social situations—is the hallmark of avoidant personality disorder.

This differs from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, where the driving concern is perfectionism, orderliness, and control, not a pervasive fear of rejection in social contexts. It also differs from dependent personality disorder, which centers on a need to be taken care of and fear of separation, rather than a pervasive fear of negative evaluation. And it differs from schizotypal personality disorder, where social discomfort arises from odd beliefs, eccentric behavior, or perceptual distortions rather than a clear, pervasive fear of rejection.

So the described pattern best aligns with avoidant personality disorder.