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Libby Weitkamp

Mr. King

English 1

2 June 2017

Avoiding You, Me, And Humanity

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.

Victims of Avoidant Personality Disorder are less likely to be in intimate relationships or

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.

Isolation is one key symptom of Avoidant Personality Disorder demonstrated by General

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

evidence it is apparent that General Zaroff is isolated to fit his needs.

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

him to Avoidant Personality Disorder.

Avoidant Personality Disorder is shown throughout the characteristics of General Zaroff.

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." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.

"Avoidant Personality Disorder." Avoidant Personality Disorder | Symptoms and Signs of Avoidant

Personality Disorder. American Psychiatric Association, n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.

"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.