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