Avoidance Coping

Avoidance coping is a coping mechanism and a form of experiential avoidance, characterized by a person's conscious or unconscious efforts to avoid dealing with a stressor in order to protect themselves from the difficulties it presents. It is part of the approach-avoidance conflict theory introduced by the psychologist Kurt Lewin, and the broader coping literature typically classifies strategies into two categories: approach or active coping, which tries to reduce stress by addressing the problem directly, and avoidance or passive coping, which tries to reduce stress by distancing oneself from the problem instead. High levels of avoidance behavior can lead to substance abuse, social withdrawal and other forms of escapism, and avoidance coping is documented as a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder and as related to symptoms of depression and anxiety; sustained avoidance coping may also contribute toward a diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder, though not everyone who shows these behaviors meets that diagnosis. Traditionally researchers have viewed approach coping as the healthier, more beneficial strategy and avoidance coping as linked to poorer outcomes, though avoidance coping can still reduce stress in situations where nothing can actually be done about the stressor itself.