What is a dependent personality

Dependent personality is a psychological disorder characterized by excessive dependence on others, manifested as a lack of confidence, fear of solitude, and difficulty making independent decisions. The core symptoms of dependent personality disorder include excessive seeking of care from others, compliant behavior, fear of separation, and avoidance of responsibility. These groups of people often require others to take responsibility for most of their daily affairs, lack autonomy, and may even tolerate unhealthy relationships to avoid loneliness.

1. Excessive seeking of care

Dependent personality traits show a strong need for others to take care of them, and even if they have the ability to complete tasks, they will repeatedly seek confirmation or help. They may delegate daily decision-making power to others, including simple matters such as what to wear and how to schedule time. This pattern often begins in early adulthood and persists in various contexts, leading to impaired social functioning.

2. Obedience behavior pattern

This group of people often exhibit excessive obedience behavior, even if they do not agree with others' opinions internally. They may fear losing support due to expressing different opinions, and therefore sacrifice their own needs to maintain the relationship. In the workplace, it manifests as not daring to refuse extra work and may tolerate abusive behavior in intimate relationships.

3. Separation anxiety is prominent

When dealing with life alone, individuals with a dependent personality may experience strong anxiety. They may fabricate catastrophic consequences, such as thinking they will starve to death or get lost. This anxiety is different from normal attachment needs and often leads to pathological attachment to the relationship partner, even through extreme means to prevent the relationship from ending.

4. Responsibility avoidance tendency

Initiating or independently completing projects poses significant challenges for individuals with dependent personality traits. They often exaggerate their own lack of ability and shift responsibility to others. When faced with choices, showing indecisiveness and needing repeated confirmation before taking action may hinder career development and personal growth.

5. Self negative thinking

Dependent personality traits generally have low self-efficacy, believing that they are incompetent or fragile. They often belittle their own abilities and achievements, attributing success to luck or the help of others. This cognitive distortion maintains a dependency behavior pattern, forming a vicious cycle.

For the improvement of dependent personality, it is recommended to gradually cultivate the ability to independently handle simple tasks and build confidence from daily small things. You can try to record successful experiences of autonomous decision-making and participate in social skills training to improve interpersonal relationship patterns. Regular exercise helps to enhance self-control, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can effectively correct negative thinking. If the symptoms seriously affect daily life, it is recommended to seek professional psychological treatment and rebuild healthy behavior and cognitive patterns through systematic intervention. Family members should avoid excessive protection and encourage substitution for labor, helping them establish moderate independence.