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Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance01:14

Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance

Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...
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Frustration occurs when people are obstructed or prevented from achieving a desired goal or fulfilling a perceived need. For example, when someone's input is ignored in a discussion, it can lead to feelings of frustration. Conflict, however, arises from opposing interests, goals, or actions. Conflicts can take various forms based on the nature of these opposing desires or goals.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

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Published on: February 20, 2019

Conflict: run! Reduced Stroop interference with avoidance responses.

Nathalie Schouppe1, Jan De Houwer, K Richard Ridderinkhof

  • 1Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|May 30, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Conflict avoidance is a primary response, as demonstrated by a modified Stroop task. This study found that avoidance responses eliminate the Stroop congruency effect, unlike approach responses.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Conflict is often considered aversive, leading to avoidance behaviors.
  • Previous research suggests a link between conflict and avoidance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of avoidance as a predominant response to conflict.
  • To examine how avoidance modulates cognitive conflict processing using a modified Stroop task.

Main Methods:

  • A modified Stroop task was employed, incorporating approach and avoidance response options.
  • Participants were instructed to move a manikin towards or away from stimuli based on word color.
  • Reaction times and error rates were analyzed to assess the Stroop congruency effect under different response conditions.

Main Results:

  • The Stroop congruency effect was significantly reduced with avoidance responses.
  • In contrast, the congruency effect persisted with approach responses.
  • Error data indicated a general reduction in congruency effects during avoidance behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Avoidance appears to be the dominant response when individuals encounter conflict.
  • The findings support the hypothesis that conflict triggers avoidance behavior.
  • Cognitive conflict processing is modulated by the nature of the behavioral response (approach vs. avoidance).