During a one-to-one session, the client says she watches DVDs to avoid looking at her husband or talking to him. Which coping mechanism is this?

During a one-to-one session, the client says she watches DVDs to avoid looking at her husband or talking to him. Which coping mechanism is this?

• A. Aggression
• B. Displacement
• C. Rationalization
• D. Avoidance

Answer: (D)

Avoidance coping shows up when someone tries to reduce distress by steering clear of the triggering situation rather than addressing it. Watching DVDs to avoid looking at or talking to the husband is exactly that: the person is sidestepping the interaction to feel relief in the moment rather than engaging to resolve the issue. It isn’t aggression, since there’s no hostile action toward the husband; it isn’t displacement, because emotions aren’t being redirected to another target; and it isn’t rationalization, which would involve making excuses to justify the behavior. So this behavior best fits avoidance coping, a common short-term relief tactic that can keep the underlying problem from being dealt with.

Avoidance coping shows up when someone tries to reduce distress by steering clear of the triggering situation rather than addressing it. Watching DVDs to avoid looking at or talking to the husband is exactly that: the person is sidestepping the interaction to feel relief in the moment rather than engaging to resolve the issue. It isn’t aggression, since there’s no hostile action toward the husband; it isn’t displacement, because emotions aren’t being redirected to another target; and it isn’t rationalization, which would involve making excuses to justify the behavior. So this behavior best fits avoidance coping, a common short-term relief tactic that can keep the underlying problem from being dealt with.