Fearful avoidants can be triggered by a variety of environmental and psychological factors. On an environmental level, certain situations or places which remind the person of a traumatic event may trigger a fearful avoidant reaction.
Social interactions can also activate a fearful avoidant response, such as when the person feels ashamed or embarrassed, or when they feel misunderstood or judged. Psychological triggers often stem from core beliefs about the self, such as an inability to trust others, an irrational fear of abandonment or rejection, a sense of shame or inadequacy, and an expectation of negative outcomes.
In general, fearful avoidants become activated when they sense the possibility of emotional vulnerability or when their fears about being judged or abandoned are triggered.
