What characterizes schizoid personality disorder?

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized primarily by social withdrawal and a pervasive lack of interest in forming personal relationships. Individuals with this disorder often appear emotionally flat and are typically depicted as loners who prefer solitary activities over social interactions. They generally do not seek close relationships, and their lack of desire for social contact often leads to a lifestyle that is marked by solitude.

This preference for isolation can be misunderstood as aloofness or indifference, but it is primarily driven by a fundamental disinterest in social relationships rather than a desire to avoid or escape them. Individuals with schizoid personality disorder may engage in minimal social interaction but do so without feeling a need for or enjoyment of these connections. Their emotional expression tends to be limited, and they often struggle to experience and convey typical emotional responses associated with interpersonal relationships.

The other characteristics listed in the options relate to different personality disorders or psychological conditions and do not align with the defining features of schizoid personality disorder.