Ep 39: Schizoid vs Avoidant Personality | What's the Difference?

In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) compare and contrast avoidant and schizoid personalities. While schizoid and avoidant personality disorders have overlapping traits but distinct characteristics, personality psychologists have argued about it for decades. In this episode, we explore the definitions of each disorder and ongoing debates surrounding if these disorders are the same thing or not. We end by sharing our thoughts about whether schizoid personality and avoidant personality are the same or different, while giving a critical opinion about the DSM’s limiting definitions of both.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Intro & Schizoid and Avoidant Definitions
• 02:29 Historical Context of Avoidant Personality Disorder
• 04:31 Kretschmer’s Theory & Anesthesia vs Hyperasthesia
• 08:17 The Argument for Splitting or Merging Disorders
• 10:51 Overlapping Symptoms of Avoidant and Schizoid
• 11:49 Differences in Schizoid and Avoidant Personalities
• 20:19 Our Opinions and Discussion
• 35:21 Summary & Conclusion