Avoidance in psychology. What is it, examples, how to get rid of it, pros, cons

Avoidance is one of the forms of human behavior that is observed in a certain situation or life circumstances. Sigmund Freud is considered the first psychologist to study this phenomenon.

The Austrian psychologist and psychotherapist identified the avoidance reaction as a separate strategy of a person’s mental activity, which is a mechanism for escaping from conflict situations and the harsh reality of life.

Based on the results of his research, Sigmund Freud formulated the term “escapism”, which in simple psychology means “escape”, “salvation from unpleasant events” or “avoidance” of something.

Definition of the term escapism. What it is

In psychology, avoidance is a mechanism of a defensive reaction of the psyche aimed at maintaining the usual comfort zone. With the help of a series of specific actions or deliberate inaction, a person avoids the influence of one or a whole complex of negative factors and life circumstances.

The avoidance reaction is triggered in response to a paralyzing feeling of fear of the possible occurrence of feelings of pain, psychological discomfort or strong emotional experiences. Quite often, the mechanism of evading the influence of negative factors is formed as a protective barrier in response to a previously experienced stressful situation or demoralization.

The concept of avoidance in psychology has a deep meaning when it comes to the general strategy of human behavior. In this case, avoidance of negative environmental factors becomes permanent and also affects all areas of an individual’s life.

For example, a person builds his behavior model according to the principle of least resistance, showing passivity in response to any events in the outside world. Such mental reactions may be associated with a low level of intellectual development, the presence of latent or indolent psychoneurological diseases, and a sluggish and weak-willed temperament.

The most common manifestation of avoidance is observed in people with an active life position, who have all the necessary set of volitional qualities, normal intellectual development, but at the same time always strive to get away from a conflict situation.

In this case, the instinct of self-preservation is activated, avoiding potentially dangerous or unpleasant actions with minimal energy and physical costs.

In psychology, avoidance is one of the results of a person making an internal decision in response to negative environmental factors.

After understanding the current situation, there is a refusal to display any form of aggression, enter into a fight and implement volitional efforts. In general, it is believed that avoidance is a pattern of behavior that is unconstructive and also limits the personality in further development.

Pros of poutine

One of the main advantages of doing a routine task is the minimal amount of energy spent on it. A task that is constantly repeated becomes commonplace and ceases to require significant effort. And often people even begin to feel uncomfortable because, for example, they overslept during a run or did not have time to make their bed in the morning.

This feature can be explained quite simply - learning a new skill is always accompanied by increased energy expenditure, but performing familiar, everyday work occurs in energy saving mode. Consequently, turning any task into an everyday routine can bring unexpected practical benefits: in addition to the fact that performing this work will require minimal effort from you, it will be difficult for you to abandon an activity that has become a habitual ritual.

Classification

Avoidance in psychology is a defensive reaction of the psyche in response to the influence of negative environmental factors. The table below lists the main types of this behavior strategy, which can be observed in children of a younger age group, adolescents and adults of all age groups.

Schematic of avoidant behavior in psychology.

Avoidance in psychology is a destructive pattern of behavior that limits a person’s further development.

The passive and active form of protecting the inner “I” from negative environmental factors leads to the fact that a person runs away from his own problems, most of which remain unresolved, accumulate, becoming an unbearable burden. People with similar behavioral personality traits need qualified help from a psychotherapist.

Device

Adaptation as a way of behavior in a conflict is characterized by the fact that the subject is ready to put his needs, desires and interests into the background and make concessions to the opponent in order to prevent confrontation. This strategy is often chosen by people with low self-esteem, insecure and who believe that their position and opinion should not be taken into account.

Basic human actions with the “Adaptation” strategy

• Constant agreement with the opponent’s demands to please him
• Active demonstration of a passive position
• No claim to victory and resistance
• Flattery, pandering to the opponent

Pros and cons of the Accommodation strategy

In the event that the subject of the conflict is not particularly important, and the main thing is to maintain constructive interaction, allowing the person to gain the upper hand, thereby asserting himself, can be the most effective way to resolve the conflict. However, if the cause of the conflict is something significant, something that affects the feelings of all people involved in the conflict, then such a strategy will not bring the desired result. In this case, the result will be only negative emotions of the one who made concessions, and all trust, mutual understanding and respect between the participants may completely disappear.

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Mechanisms

There are 2 main mechanisms for constructing a model of personal behavior in the form of avoidance. This is complete protection from aggressive factors of the outside world, or avoidance of conflict situations through a system of peacefulness.

Through the fence from the outside world

This mechanism for the development of a psychological model of human behavior is that in response to all life situations that require emotional, physical or moral stress, the individual takes a passive wait-and-see position and does not make contact with external stimuli or the people around him.

The basis of this strategy comes down to waiting out an unfavorable period, letting the current situation take its course until life circumstances change.

Such a mechanism for implementing a defensive reaction of the psyche has a destructive effect not only on the personality of the individual himself, but also negatively affects the lives of his loved ones, who become hostage to the psychological problems of a loved one.

Through the manifestation of peacefulness

Individuals who adhere to this strategy of protecting their comfort zone are distinguished by their ability to adapt, as well as the ability to make compromises in the most difficult situations.

In psychology, avoidance through peacefulness involves building partnerships with a person who may be a potential provocateur of conflict situations, a source of danger. People who profess this model of behavior are always ready to make concessions even to the detriment of their own interests.

The mechanism for implementing the psychological strategy of avoidance through peacefulness requires a person to have the following personal qualities:

• high level of mental development;
• communication skills;
• the ability to quickly find a common language and common ground with other people;
• pliability and amenability;
• the presence of moral values ​​and good upbringing.

Most people who pursue the goal of expressing avoidance through peacefulness experience internal fears that their sense of self-worth will be suppressed during a conflict situation. Individuals with this type of behavior withdraw from difficult life situations due to fear of responsibility.

Conflict situations with loved ones

Family and friends are the closest people, relationships with whom play an important role in our lives. Therefore, when disagreements arise, it is important to maintain good relationships with these people. Rivalry in such conflicts will be inappropriate. The most correct decision would be to compromise or start negotiations and satisfy the interests of all parties.

In some situations, it is better to remain silent, avoid a showdown (often the problem resolves itself), or choose an accommodation when the outcome of the conflict is extremely important for a loved one.

An environmental quarrel or how to resolve a conflict peacefully.

Reasons for avoidance

Avoidance in psychology is a whole series of specific actions or absolute inaction aimed at protecting one’s inner world from the negative factors of the surrounding world. Such a model of individual behavior can be formed under the influence of various life circumstances.

The following main reasons are identified that influence the development of a defensive mental reaction in the form of passive or active avoidance:

• hereditary characteristics of an individual’s character, when a similar pattern of behavior can be traced in one of the close relatives on the father’s or mother’s side;
• concomitant psychoneurological diseases that are in a latent state, and the pathology itself proceeds without signs of exacerbations;
• hormonal imbalances associated with a deficiency of male sex hormones (for example, spinelessness, lack of an adequate response to external challenges may be the result of too low testosterone levels);
• rigidity of the emotional component of character;

• a difficult situation in the family that persisted throughout the child’s childhood and adolescence (for example, if the formation of the individual’s personality took place under conditions of authoritarian pressure from the father or mother, limiting the volitional qualities of his character);
• mediocre intellectual development, when a person is unable to form a clear life position and develop mechanisms of interaction in response to the challenges of the outside world;
• soft character and pronounced lethargy of temperament;
• the consequences of previously suffered psychological trauma, severe mental shock, which forced a person to withdraw into himself and avoid any danger factors;
• experience of physical or sexual violence;
• complications arising after traumatic brain injury or infectious diseases affecting the structure of the central nervous system;
• a negative example in the family, when the father took a similar position of inaction in difficult life situations.

Avoidance in psychology is a special model of individual behavior that is aimed at ensuring one’s own comfort, regardless of the needs of people from the immediate environment.

The reason that formed the basis for the formation of this mental reaction in response to difficult life circumstances is established during communication with a psychotherapist or psychoanalyst. If you contact a specialist in a timely manner, it is possible to correct your behavior pattern, overcome internal complexes and previously suffered injuries.

Types of routine

If we consider routine from the perspective of planning things, then it can be divided into two types:

• The first type includes matters that are not related to a person’s achievement of fundamental life goals , but are designed to provide him with the required and satisfactory quality of life.
• The second type includes obligations designed to help a person achieve both global and smaller external goals , for example, pay for utilities, insurance, etc. Timely fulfillment of such duties brings a person a feeling of satisfaction, a natural feeling when performing any obligatory task.

Routine chores also include housework, including washing, cooking, cleaning the apartment, etc. Completing these tasks does not in any way affect a person’s achievement of his priority life goals, but has a positive effect on his quality of life (after all, living in a clean apartment is much more pleasant than living in an uncleaned, untidy room).

Positive sides

Any behavior model contains positive and negative aspects. There are several advantages of the psychological strategy of avoiding irritating factors.

Resolving Anxiety

Internal protection from the effects of external pestilence allows you to maintain a stable psycho-emotional state, prevent the occurrence of anxiety, panic, attacks of fear and self-doubt.

Lack of re-experience of emotional excitement

Most people who adhere to the strategy of psychological avoidance have previously experienced negative emotions and have been in a stressful situation for a long period of time.

Avoiding life's trials and conflict situations preserves their nervous system from repeated shocks that can provoke the development of concomitant diseases of the body.

Achieving psychological maturity

It is believed that a certain number of people who adhere to a behavioral model of avoiding life's difficulties require time to cope with internal problems on their own. As an individual grows older, gains experience, and gains new knowledge, a change in their worldview may occur.

Negative sides

The psychological strategy of avoidance has many more negative aspects than the positive aspects that were described above.

Limitations in decision making

A person who professes this model of behavior never considers alternative decision-making options. In any life situation that involves life trials, overcoming difficulties, a defensive reaction is triggered, aimed at protecting oneself from these challenges of the outside world.

Lack of personal development

Personal development is possible only under conditions of active interaction with the world around us and the people who fill it.

Constantly being in one’s comfort zone limits a person’s ability to gain new knowledge, skills, and life experience. Under conditions of passive avoidance, the occurrence of a process of degradation of an individual’s personal qualities cannot be ruled out at all.

Decreased quality of life

Constant avoidance of certain circumstances, the challenges of fate, leads to the fact that a person withdraws into himself and is deprived of the opportunity to live a full life. All the actions of an individual are aimed at maintaining his usual comfort zone, being in which does not allow him to open new horizons and prospects.

Feelings of self-doubt appear

Individuals who build their lives on the basis of a pattern of constant avoidance acquire accompanying character flaws in the form of:

• indecision;
• constant feeling of doubt;
• fear of making the wrong decision;
• anxiety before new life events, unfamiliar situations.

All this leads to the fact that a person becomes even more insecure in his abilities. Such a psychological state can cause the development of neuroses.

Consequences

The psychological model of behavior in the form of constant passive or active avoidance leads to negative changes in the individual’s personality.

In this case, the following consequences may occur:

• gradual decline in the level of intellectual development;
• lack of sufficient life experience that would correspond to a person’s age;
• acquisition of accompanying psychological complexes and borderline mental states;
• the inability to acquire the skills to build strong social connections that are necessary to lead a fulfilling life;
• dependency and complete dependence on close relatives who do not adhere to the strategy of avoiding life’s difficulties, but are forced to wage a daily struggle for a “place in the sun”;
• lack of vocational education, which provides employment opportunities (most people living according to the principle of avoidance have difficulty finishing school, do not enter educational institutions to obtain a specialty, or drop out of education in the first 1-2 years);

• the inability to start a family, since building strong relationships requires overcoming the fear of life’s difficulties and upcoming responsibilities;
• the development of concomitant psychoneurological diseases that arise due to the impact of constant life restrictions, maintaining a closed and uncommunicative lifestyle.

Most people who take a position of passive avoidance are inconspicuous individuals who do not like publicity.

A person with a similar psychological type of character spends most of his time within the walls of his house or room, goes out very rarely, and leads an ascetic lifestyle. People with this model of behavior very rarely create families and are not able to adapt and quickly adapt to changing life circumstances.

Individuals with a defensive mental reaction in the form of avoidance through the mechanism of peacefulness cannot achieve success in their personal lives, build a good career, or achieve high wages, since they make constant concessions and compromises, sacrificing their own interests.

How to overcome

In order to overcome the defensive reaction of the psyche in the form of constant avoidance, a person himself must want to change his life, improve its quality and open up new opportunities for himself.

The first step towards correcting social behavior should be a visit to a psychologist or psychoanalyst. It is necessary to determine the reason that became the trigger for the formation of the avoidance strategy.

After this, long-term work begins with a specialist in the field of psychotherapy, who teaches the patient to live in stressful situations, to bear responsibility for the fate of their loved ones, to make difficult decisions without experiencing panic fear of possible consequences.

Throughout the course of psychotherapy, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules that will help level out the avoidance strategy:

1. There is no need to try to get away from internal doubts before making a decision. You just need to learn to live with these sensations without fear of radical changes in your life.
2. You should begin to develop your character strengths.
3. Every day, perform 1 action that should have been done a long time ago, but until now they were put on the back burner due to fear or self-doubt.
4. You don't need to pay attention to the opinions of people around you.
5. It must be remembered that the future of each person depends only on himself. Where he ends up at the end of his journey largely depends on the intensity of his actions.
6. You should not be afraid of the people around you, because they are all not ideal either, they have their own bad habits and character flaws.
7. There is no need to be too shy and modest, since these character traits only complicate the process of overcoming life's challenges.
8. When communicating with interlocutors, you must always take a clear and unshakable position.
9. Always remember that strong people are respected.
10. Do not sacrifice your life interests for the benefit of other people.

The number of psychotherapy sessions that must be completed to correct the behavioral pattern of constant avoidance is determined by the specialist. It all depends on the general condition of the patient and his life position.

In psychology, avoidance is a specific form of behavior, which consists in the formation of a defensive reaction of the psyche in response to aggressive factors in the surrounding world. People with a similar psychological type of character are not capable of displaying aggression, and their philosophy of life boils down to maintaining their comfort zone, avoiding conflicts and life's trials.

There is passive and active avoidance. In the first case, a person does not show any physical or volitional efforts to counteract certain factors or the current situation. Peaceful avoidance is a form of opportunistic behavior when an individual constantly makes concessions, sacrifices his own well-being in order to protect himself from conflict.

Negotiation

Negotiation is one of the most common conflict resolution strategies. With the help of negotiations, both micro-conflicts (in families, organizations) and macro-level conflicts are resolved, i.e. conflicts on a global and national scale.

Basic human actions with the “Negotiations” strategy

• Focus on finding a mutually beneficial solution
• Stopping any aggressive actions
• Showing attention to your opponent's position
• Carefully consider next steps
• Using an intermediary

Pros and cons of the Negotiation strategy

The Negotiation strategy allows the warring parties to find a common language without incurring any losses. It is very effective because... neutralizes aggressive confrontation and smoothes out the situation, and also provides the parties with time to think about what is happening and search for new solutions. However, if negotiations suddenly drag on for some reason, this may be perceived by either party as avoiding the conflict or unwillingness to solve the problem, which may lead to even more aggressive offensive actions.

You should choose a strategy for behavior in a conflict as thoughtfully, consciously, and taking into account the specifics of the situation itself. A correctly chosen strategy will give maximum results, while an incorrectly chosen one, on the contrary, can only aggravate the situation. Therefore, once again carefully study this material and try to apply the acquired knowledge in practice even in small things, because by learning to resolve small conflicts, you will be able to effectively influence large ones. And remember that it is best to prevent the emergence of a conflict situation than to eliminate an already “raging flame.”

Peace to your home!

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• IBR Conflict Resolution Approach
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• Negotiation Matrix
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Key words:1Communication