Cycle 15 - Flashcard Set 1
What are emotional avoidance behaviours and why are they developed?
Emotional avoidance behaviours are developed to avoid people and situations that influence one’s thinking and feeling.
What are self-destructive beliefs and why do they get established?
Self-destructive beliefs get established to help us feel safe and secure when we don’t have any other means yet developed to maintain a sense of inner security/stability.
How can emotional avoidance behaviours and self-destructive beliefs affect a person with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Emotional avoidance behaviours and self-destructive beliefs in BPD can determine how we tend to think and feel and, ultimately, how we act.
What can happen if a person with BPD continues to rely on emotional avoidance behaviours without learning how to manage their emotions skillfully?
Emotional avoidance behaviours may result in more undesirable life consequences without learning how to manage all the consequent emotions skillfully.
What do maladaptive emotional avoidance behaviours sacrifice and how can they result in unmet human needs?
Maladaptive emotional avoidance behaviours sacrifice something else important and may result in a human need not being met.
What is the most common maladaptive avoidance behaviour in BPD?
The most common maladaptive avoidance behaviour is retreating from life situations or isolating oneself from others.
What is another widespread form of maladaptive avoidance behaviour in BPD?
Another widespread form of maladaptive avoidance behaviour is becoming angry, irritable, defensive, or rageful.
Why may masking emotions be required in some situations?
Masking emotions may also be required because time, energy and attention are needed to accomplish high-priority tasks.
When does emotional avoidance become more of a problem?
Emotional avoidance becomes more of a problem when used to avoid hurtful responses in relationships where open/honest expression of emotion gets quickly invalidated.
Why might a person choose to change the subject or lie about their feelings instead of honestly expressing them?
Sometimes a person may ‘just not like’ working through real feelings, so instead of honestly expressing his feelings, he chooses to change the subject or lie about what is happening inside of him.
What is the benefit of using emotional avoidance strategies and what are some potential consequences?
The benefit of using emotional avoidance strategies is short-term relief from fear of rejection and vulnerability. Loneliness and powerlessness might be consequences of rarely (or never) taking the time ‘to be real’ about thoughts and emotions.
