Approach-avoidance conflict
William M. Bernstein · 2018
Kurt Lewin differentiated between four basic types of conflict: Approach-Avoidance; Approach-Approach; Avoidance-Avoidance; and Double Approach-Avoidance. The Newcastle hitchhiker&s;s report suggests that his mind and brain were full of Double Approach-Avoidance Conflicts. The central finding from both animal and human studies is that approach and avoidance tendencies change differently with distance from goals. Avoidance gradients have a much faster rise with decreasing distance to an object than approach gradients. Avoidance gradients have a much faster rise with decreasing distance to an object than approach gradients. The psychology of approach-avoidance motivation is applicable to "objects in mind" as well as objects in the external environment. The asymmetry in approach and avoidance dynamics makes sense in terms of conserving biological energy, preserving safety, and learning about the world. Overt behaviour in the High Ambiguity situation reflects an un-conflicted approach motive. Ambiguity lubricates social life.