What is the main emotional characteristic of Cluster C personality disorders?

The main emotional characteristic of Cluster C personality disorders is anxiety and fear. Individuals with these disorders often experience excessive worry, avoidance behaviors, and feelings of apprehension. Cluster C includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, all of which share a common theme of significant anxiety. For example, someone with avoidant personality disorder might feel a deep fear of rejection and thus avoid social situations, whereas someone with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder may grapple with anxiety related to perfectionism and orderliness.

In contrast, other clusters of personality disorders exhibit different emotional experiences. For instance, Cluster A disorders are characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors, leading to erratic interactions, while Cluster B features dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors that can include intense emotional displays. Impairment in social functioning can occur across all personality disorders but is not specifically tied to the primary emotional characteristic of Cluster C. Indifference to social norms is more indicative of Cluster A or B personality disorders, rather than the anxiety-driven nature present in Cluster C.