Learning outcomes Behavior (week 1)
After studying the theme on behaviour (avoidance), including both the lecture (including
research presented in the lecture) and the readings, students should be able to discuss:
1. Different types of avoidance and their role in psychopathology
- Overt escape/experiential avoidance: one does not enter, or prematurely leaves, a fear-
inducing situation; results in psychopathology:
1. Process of deliberate avoidance contradicts desired outcome = verbal regulatory
process includes avoided item; attempt not to think thoughts creates those very
thoughts
2. Regulation of private events is largely unresponsive to verbal control = most private
experiences are classically conditioned; purposeful control is ineffective because the
processes are not readily verbally governed
3. Change strategy leads to unhealthy forms of avoidance = avoiding painful memories
may include avoidance of any potential cues; constricts one’s freedom and life
4. The emotional event is important = when an unchangeable event occurs, one should
feel what they feel
5. Healthy change produces painful experiences = major reason exp. Avoidance leads
to pathology it restricts needed change; stenotopic condition = narrow range of
adaptability to changes in environment
- Safety behaviors: within-situation behaviors; overt or covert avoidance of feared
outcomes; categories = avoidance of situations to prevent anticipated danger; escape
once anxiety occurs; behaviors in situation w intention of actively preventing feared
outcome
1. Override objective disconfirmation
2. Avoid situation and feared outcome
3. Results in obtainment of evidence sustaining negative interpretations
4. Sustain threat beliefs by inferring they have prevented feared outcome via behavior
5. Preventing and prematurely terminating exposure to the CS
6. Prevent extinction of conditioned feared response (CR)
- Rumination: functions as avoidance
2. Why avoidance is so prevalent
- Controlling factors:
1. Bidirectional nature of language
2. Inappropriate generalization of control rules
3. Cultural support for emotions and cognitions as causes of behavior
4. Social encouragement
5. Modeling of exp avoidance
- Built into human language = basic component of human cognition; language creates the
illusion that “badness” is an inherent quality of an emotion; experiential avoidance
After studying the theme on behaviour (avoidance), including both the lecture (including
research presented in the lecture) and the readings, students should be able to discuss:
1. Different types of avoidance and their role in psychopathology
- Overt escape/experiential avoidance: one does not enter, or prematurely leaves, a fear-
inducing situation; results in psychopathology:
1. Process of deliberate avoidance contradicts desired outcome = verbal regulatory
process includes avoided item; attempt not to think thoughts creates those very
thoughts
2. Regulation of private events is largely unresponsive to verbal control = most private
experiences are classically conditioned; purposeful control is ineffective because the
processes are not readily verbally governed
3. Change strategy leads to unhealthy forms of avoidance = avoiding painful memories
may include avoidance of any potential cues; constricts one’s freedom and life
4. The emotional event is important = when an unchangeable event occurs, one should
feel what they feel
5. Healthy change produces painful experiences = major reason exp. Avoidance leads
to pathology it restricts needed change; stenotopic condition = narrow range of
adaptability to changes in environment
- Safety behaviors: within-situation behaviors; overt or covert avoidance of feared
outcomes; categories = avoidance of situations to prevent anticipated danger; escape
once anxiety occurs; behaviors in situation w intention of actively preventing feared
outcome
1. Override objective disconfirmation
2. Avoid situation and feared outcome
3. Results in obtainment of evidence sustaining negative interpretations
4. Sustain threat beliefs by inferring they have prevented feared outcome via behavior
5. Preventing and prematurely terminating exposure to the CS
6. Prevent extinction of conditioned feared response (CR)
- Rumination: functions as avoidance
2. Why avoidance is so prevalent
- Controlling factors:
1. Bidirectional nature of language
2. Inappropriate generalization of control rules
3. Cultural support for emotions and cognitions as causes of behavior
4. Social encouragement
5. Modeling of exp avoidance
- Built into human language = basic component of human cognition; language creates the
illusion that “badness” is an inherent quality of an emotion; experiential avoidance
