Avoidance Behavior

Avoidance Behavior

     The motive for avoidance behavior isn't really hard to understand. Living things strive to optimize survival chances and avoid anything that diminishes those chances. Things that are perceived as painful trigger the avoidance reflex. For example, if a tank of water is unevenly heated, amoebas and paramecium as well as fish will travel to the side of the tank or area where temperature is not threatening,

     From a purely psychological standpoint, this explains the behavior of the phobic. The phobic tries to avoid the cause of his fear in order not to experience it. This can be done not only by establishing and maintaining a physical distance, but it can also be done via adopting an attitude of non-participation in order to reduce the stress that is likely to ensue if the distance isn't established and maintained.

     Why does Joey refuse to join the baseball team? Why does Jim not participate in certain conversations? Why does Jill avoid dark rooms? Why hasn't jack married yet? True, the reasons could be many, and very often totally justifiable. However, the reasons could also be irrational and caused bu an overactive imagination. Or the evasion could also be due to an actual or perceived deficiency either intellectual of physical.

     Can we blame cadaverously skinny George for avoiding physical contests where strength and stamina are crucial? Can we blame Helen for not wanting to attend the prom because she is obese, while most of her classmates resemble Miss America Pageant candidates?

     In any case, the motive is always the same-avoidance of pain either physical or psychological. Which brings to mind a woman I married who had an extreme aversion to conversations that were not gossip. Why? Simple! Because she could not contribute anything meaningful. So she avoided such conversations by remaining totally silent and then shifting to a verbal confrontation or gossip once more as soon as possible..