Libby Weitkamp
Mr. King
English 1
2 June 2017
Are you isolated, alone, and picky of others? Avoidant Personality Disorder is transpiring
in about 2.4 percent of todays general population. This segregating disorder is typically
diagnosed and treated by a mental health professional ,yet most with the disorder do not seek
treatment. Those between ages 40 and 50 suffer the most extreme symptoms (Psych). Symptoms
may include Avoidant Personality Disorder is clearly exemplified by the lonely, isolated
General Zaroff.
any relationship out of fear that they may incongruous with other humans (WebMD). If the
victim enters a relationship, it is with great certainty that they will be liked (American). In the
story The Most Dangerous Game, General Zaroff is not described as one to participate in an
intimate relationship. The only relationship not produced by fear or loyalty in the story is
between Rainsford and General Zaroff. The General formed the relationship with Rainsford
because he believed that Rainsford would like him. Zaroffs repetitive use of words such as
well show that he viewed Rainsford as someone who followed him and agreed with him.
These words suggest that General Zaroff treats Rainsford as a friend because he is not like the
others he has captured. As the conversation continues, Rainsford denies any enjoyment in
hunting another human being even though the General disagrees. To the General, Rainsford will
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clearly appreciate his pride in hunting. The only real relationship the General has in the story is
with someone who the General believes will agree with his purposes and qualities.
Zaroff. General Zaroff is on his own island with only a few people who he does not socially
interact with (Psych). The island the General is on is known as Ship-Trap Island due to the
channel that Zaroff sends out, causing ships to be crushed. The evidence explains the lengths the
General will go to in order to have only a certain amount of people on his island. General Zaroff
also has about a dozen pupils in his cellar. This evidence shows exactly how isolated the
General is by stating the number of people, despite the fact that they are in a cellar. With this
Despite the evidence supporting that General Zaroff has Avoidant Personality Disorder,
many readers believe that the general does not show enough symptoms to exemplify the
disorder, but they fail to see that he shows the key symptom of isolation (Psych). Although
aspects of the argument supporting that the General does not have the disorder are enticing, it
ultimately fails to be the stronger argument because the disorder is formed around being fearful
of rejection or abhor, which is one of the most important reasons for General Zaroffs isolation
(American). Those who believe that General Zaroff does not have the disorder are not
expanding their ideas far enough to realize the extremity of the symptoms the General does have.
Within Avoidant Personality Disorder lies many issues. The reason for the issues within the
disorder is what matters in the diagnoses, therefore, simply providing an answer to what the
symptom is, is not helpful without an explanation as to why the symptom occurs. The extremely
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intense behavior that the General shows is what pushes him to the abnormal side, thus pushing
General Zaroff is a special case of this disorder due to the hard-to-define reasoning behind his
isolation, yet the isolation and lacking social relations are enough to lead to a further diagnosis.
General Zaroff is a person who may not be seen as avoidant on the outside, however, the inside
is a different story. Accepting something for what it seems can be the easiest road to recovery.
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Citations
"Avoidant Personality Disorder." Avoidant Personality Disorder | Symptoms and Signs of Avoidant
"The Most Dangerous Game ." Full text of "The Most Dangerous Game". N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June
2017.
"Avoidant Personality Disorder Symptoms." Psych Central. N.p., 06 Mar. 2017. Web. 01 June 2017.