“Empathy is difficult for the AVP. They do care about others and can be very aware of emotional content. AVPs are capable of expressing empathetic thought, though it is usually short lived. Their thoughts are often racing and difficult to find. They vacillate between what is fair or not. You might see an AVP give more empathy to a distant relative at an event than the significant other. They do care, but the feeling of that care response can be problematic. They are still hiding, balancing, and are fearful of rejection. Interactions rarely are confronted or dealt with.” RejectionAvoidantAvoidant AttachmentAvoidant Personality Disorder Book:Hiding In The Light: Understanding Avoidant Personality Disorder Source: Hiding In The Light: Understanding Avoidant Personality Disorder
“They base their behavior on fear of both criticism and rejection. However, they also want to relate. We see them placing their weight on one side of the teeter-totter and then the other. This occurs in most aspects of their lives. On one side, they will strive to look and act close to perfect, in order to establish connections. Then, they will do things to keep others away. They consciously or unconsciously set themselves up to be the first to reject. Others will then respond with the desired rejection or criticism. The dynamic is one of success to failure, failure to success.” RejectionAvoidantAvoidant AttachmentAvoidant Personality Disorder Book:Hiding In The Light: Understanding Avoidant Personality Disorder Source: Hiding In The Light: Understanding Avoidant Personality Disorder