The Basic Principles Of ACT - Experiential Avoidance

Question 1

What is experiential avoidance?

Answer 1

The process of engaging in strategies to avoid certain private events, such as unwanted thoughts, feelings, emotions, urges, desires, memories, or bodily sensations.

Question 2

Name three common experiential avoidance strategies

Answer 2

Avoidance
Suppression
Distraction

Question 3

Do these avoidance strategies seem effective in the short term?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

What are the long term effects of avoidance strategies?

Answer 4

Avoidance strategies lead to reinforcement of the problematic thoughts, feelings, and sensations, leading to behaviours or decisions where a person must alter their life in order to avoid them.

Question 5

What happens when we try to avoid or get rid of unwanted private experiences?

Answer 5

We’re likely to suffer psychologically.