Definition
Demand avoidance describes a behavioral pattern in which a person resists and avoids ordinary demands and expectations. In autism, it is associated with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), an anxiety-driven profile.
Why It Matters
Understanding demand avoidance as anxiety-driven, rather than oppositional, changes the response. Collaborative, low-demand approaches are more effective than increased demands or consequences.
Common Misconception
Demand avoidance is not defiance or manipulation. It is an anxiety response. The nervous system perceives demands as threats. Traditional behavioral approaches often increase anxiety and resistance.