Maladaptive Avoidance

Maladaptive avoidance refers to avoidance of feared stimuli – be that feared people, objects, places,internal sensations, or elicitation of familial accommodation behaviors – that are: (1) not objectively dangerous, and (2) causing substantial impairment and distress. Maladaptive avoidance often can be driven by a youth’s unrealistic fears, or distorted thought patterns that contribute to distress, avoidance,or engagement in compulsive behaviors.