Avoidance coping

In psychology, avoidance coping is a coping mechanism and form of experiential avoidance. It is characterized by a person's efforts, conscious or unconscious, to avoid dealing with a stressor in order to protect oneself from the difficulties the stressor presents.[1] Avoidance coping can lead to substance abuse, social withdrawal, and other forms of escapism. High levels of avoidance behaviors may lead to a diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder, though not everyone who displays such behaviors meets the definition of having this disorder.[2] Avoidance coping is also a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder[3] and related to symptoms of depression and anxiety.[4] Additionally, avoidance coping is part of the approach-avoidance conflict theory introduced by psychologist Kurt Lewin.[5]

Literature on coping often classifies coping strategies into two broad categories: approach/active coping and avoidance/passive coping.[6][7] Approach coping includes behaviors that attempt to reduce stress by alleviating the problem directly, and avoidance coping includes behaviors that reduce stress by distancing oneself from the problem.[8] Traditionally, approach coping has been seen as the healthiest and most beneficial way to reduce stress, while avoidance coping has been associated with negative personality traits, potentially harmful activities, and generally poorer outcomes.[9] However, avoidance coping can reduce stress when nothing can be done to address the stressor.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :02 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Weinbrecht, Anna; Schulze, Lars; Boettcher, Johanna; Renneberg, Babette (March 2016). "Avoidant Personality Disorder: a Current Review". Current Psychiatry Reports. 18 (3): 29. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0665-6. ISSN 1523-3812. PMID 26830887. S2CID 34358884.
  3. ^ Horwitz, Allan V. (2018). PTSD : a short history. Baltimore, Maryland. ISBN 978-1-4214-2640-2. OCLC 1051003345.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Haskell, Amanda M.; Britton, Peter C.; Servatius, Richard J. (2020-03-02). "Toward an assessment of escape/avoidance coping in depression". Behavioural Brain Research. 381: 112363. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112363. ISSN 0166-4328. PMID 31739002. S2CID 208047991.
  5. ^ a b Roth, Susan (1986). "Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress". American Psychologist. 41 (7): 813–819. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.41.7.813. PMID 3740641 – via APA PsycNet.
  6. ^ Roth, S; Cohen, L (1986). "Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress". American Psychologist. 813-819. 41 (7): 813–819. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.41.7.813. PMID 3740641.
  7. ^ Kleinke, C (2007). What does it mean to cope. Westport: The Praeger Handbook on Stress and Coping.
  8. ^ Carver, C; Scheier, M; Weintraub, J (1989). "Assessing coping strategies: a theoretically based approach". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 56 (2): 267–283. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.1022.750. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.56.2.267. PMID 2926629.
  9. ^ Holahan, C; Moos, R (1985). "Life stress and health: Personality, coping, and family support in stress resistance". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 49 (3): 739–747. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.49.3.739. PMID 4045701.