avoidance behavior
Sidestepping feared situations
Avoidance behavior is action taken to prevent encountering something unpleasant or anxiety-provoking.
In psychology, it describes patterns where people sidestep situations, thoughts, or feelings that trigger discomfort: His avoidance behavior around conflict made relationships difficult.
While sometimes protective, chronic avoidance can reinforce anxiety and prevent growth.
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
panic · compartmentalization · isolation · running away · procrastination · ghosting · denial · escapism · dissociation · shyness · learned helplessness · repression · self-sabotage · withdrawal · evasion · distraction · checking out · substance abuse
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- social fearssocial anxiety, social phobia, fear of judgment, fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment
- traumaabuse, abandonment, abandonment trauma, acute stress, amnesia
- avoidance learningnegative reinforcement, warning signal
- dysmorphiabody dysmorphia, body checking, excessive grooming, camouflaging, weight obsession
- social disorderssocial anxiety, social phobia, social withdrawal, social isolation, social awkwardness
avoidance behaviorconfrontation
Direct hostile encounter
engagement · attraction · reward-seeking · exposure · facing
avoidance behaviorexposure
State of being unprotected
addressing · working through · exposure therapy · fight response · direct action