Synonyms
Definition
Approach and avoidance represent two fundamental aspects of motivation that guide human behavior. Approach-oriented motivation often guides behavior toward positive or desirable events or outcomes, whereas avoidance-oriented motivation guides behavior away from negative or undesirable events or outcomes. Conceptualized as orientations that underlie aspects of personality and drive stress-coping efforts, the proclivity to approach is considered adaptive and associated with positive psychological and physical health outcomes, while the proclivity to avoid is associated with negative health outcomes and considered maladaptive. These two motivational tendencies can be further delineated into the affective, cognitive, and behavioral methods used to approach or avoid a situation. Cognitive avoidance is a term that represents several strategies, such as distraction, worry, and thought suppression, aimed at...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Barlow, D. H. (Ed.). (2014). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (5th ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Borkovec, T. D., Alcaine, O. M., & Behar, E. (2004). Avoidance theory of worry and generalized anxiety disorder. In R. G. Heimber, C. L. Turk, & D. S. Mennin (Eds.), Generalized anxiety disorder: Advances in research and practice (pp. 77–108). New York: Guilford Press.
Elliot, A. J., & Thrash, T. M. (2002). Approach-avoidance motivation in personality: Approach and avoidance temperaments and goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(5), 804–818.
Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2004). Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 745–774.
Gray, J. A. (1990). Brain systems that mediate both emotion and cognitive. Cognitive and Emotion, 4, 269–288.
Penley, J. A., Tomaka, J., & Wiebe, J. S. (2002). The association of coping to physical and psychological health outcomes: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25, 551–603.
Skinner, E. A., Edge, K., Altman, J., & Sherwood, H. (2003). Searching for the structure of coping: A review and critique of category systems for classifying ways of coping. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 216–269.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Sagui-Henson, S.J. (2017). Cognitive Avoidance. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_964-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_964-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences