Why People With Schizoid Personality Disorder Avoid Relationships
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PERSONALITY DISORDERS SHAPE how people think about themselves and others and relate to other people. For individuals with schizoid personality disorder (ScPD), that usually means being detached, struggling to show emotion, avoiding social activities, and showing little interest in relationships.
“They’re hermit-like and reluctant to engage with others,” says Frank Ghinassi, Ph.D., president and CEO of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and senior vice president of RWJBarnabas Health’s Behavioral Health and Addiction Services. “They’re flat emotionally, avoid eye contact, and like to be alone.”
Schizoid personality disorder (ScPD) isn’t the same as schizophrenia, even though the terms sound similar. ScPD is a clinically diagnosable personality disorder, which the American Psychological Association (APA) describes as having “long-term emotional coldness, absence of tender feelings for others, lack of desire for and enjoyment of close relationships, and indifference to praise or criticism and to the feelings of others.”
ScPD is classified as a Cluster A personality disorder, which Chase Cassine, LCSW, a therapist in New Orleans, says is characterized as “withdrawn, eccentric, suspicious, and irritational.”
Unlike many personality disorders, people with ScPD often live well-adjusted lives, according to Cleveland Clinic, and are less likely to have depression and anxiety. They typically succeed in jobs where they don’t have to interact with others, like computer programmers, lab technicians, or artists, Ghinassi says.
“With this disorder, an individual can be part of society, but without what we consider to be close human contact,” he says. And, it’s usually not that distressing to them, but may bother their family members, like their parents or siblings.
What Is Schizoid Personality Disorder?
“Asocial” is how Meghan Marcum, Psy.D., chief psychologist at AMFM Healthcare, describes ScPD.
“People don’t feel the need to socialize often or maintain close friendships,” she says. “Almost like an introvert who is completely on that side of the spectrum. There is a detachment from others which makes people with this diagnosis often referred to as loners.”
The disorder can appear during someone’s teen years or earlier, according to Cleveland Clinic. Like other personality disorders, experts aren’t sure exactly what causes ScPD, but genetics and environment are likely at the root.
Research suggests a possible genetic link between ScPD and schizophrenia and an autism spectrum disorder. Studies also show that people with ScPD might have had childhood caregivers who were neglectful, detached, or emotionally cold.
Signs of Schizoid Personality Disorder
Avoiding relationships and social interactions are the main characteristics of ScPD, says Melissa Dowd, LMFT, therapy lead at PlushCare. “People with ScPD do not enjoy close, personal relationships of any kind, including those with family members.”
Other signs include:
Not feeling pleasure in things
Not understanding or responding to humor
Feeling indifferent to praise or criticism
Choosing solitary activities (or jobs)
How ScPD Differs from Social Anxiety
Being a loner and avoiding social situations are hallmarks of ScPD, but the disorder differs from social anxiety, Marcum says.
“With social anxiety, there is an irrational fear of being judged in social situations or potentially embarrassing oneself,” she says. ScPD isn’t rooted in anxiety. Instead, people just don’t have the desire to socialize or have companionship.
“Their lack of connection is simply who they are,” Ghinassi says, and people with ScPD usually don’t feel distressed over their lack of connection.
Another thing: people who feel awkward or anxious in some social situations might feel more comfortable in other settings, Dowd explains. With ScPD, people don’t seek connections in any context.
ScPD Isn’t the Same as Schizophrenia
The terms might sound similar, but people with ScPD aren’t likely to experience the hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking that come with schizophrenia, Cassine says.
“For an individual with schizophrenia, their overall thought processes are very disorganized, and they have a very difficult time with work, school, and interpersonal relationships,” Ghinassi says.
People with schizophrenia also don’t necessarily avoid personal relationships, Dowd adds.
Are Relationships Ever Possible with ScPD?
Relationships are rare for people with ScPD since they don’t seek them out and prefer to be alone, Ghinassi says.
Even relationships with parents, siblings, and other family members are difficult. Individuals with the disorder don’t make an effort for a connection and are indifferent to other people’s desire for a connection with them, Ghinassi says.
Treatment can help improve someone’s ability to have more successful relationships, though, Dowd says.
How Is ScPD treated?
There’s no cure for ScPD, and it’s considered a lifelong disorder, Dowd says. People with the disorder don’t usually see their feelings or behaviors as problematic, so they often don’t seek treatment on their own.
People seek treatment for ScPD when they’re persuaded by others or because of another condition, like depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, Cassine says.
Talk therapy is sometimes difficult for people with ScPD because they prefer distancing themselves from emotional experiences, according to Cleveland Clinic. In some instances, family therapy, group therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy can help.
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