A psychologist is describing the different personality disorders. When she comes to avoidant and schizoid personality disorders, the students look puzzled. How will she distinguish these two personality disorders?

a. Avoidant personality disorder has closer etiological ties to mood disorders than schizoid personality disorder has.
b. Those with schizoid personality disorder tend to become extremely dependent on others, while those with avoidant personality disorder manage to maintain their independence.
c. Those with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone; those with avoidant personality disorder want to be liked by others but are afraid of even minimal signs of disapproval.
d. Those with avoidant personality disorder are not distressed by their self-induced social isolation, while those with schizoid personality disorder are distressed by their lack of social skills.

Answer: c.