PATHOLOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE

Pathological demand avoidance: What and who are being pathologised and in whose interests?

The term ‘pathological demand avoidance’ was first coined in 1983. In recent years, diagnostic tools have emerged to enable practitioners to identify, name and treat pathological demand avoidance and, at least in the United Kingdom, there is an increasing number of children who attract this label.

Pathological demand avoidance: Exploring the behavioural profile

‘Pathological Demand Avoidance’ was coined to describe a profile of obsessive resistance to everyday demands and requests, with a tendency to resort to ‘socially manipulative’ behaviour, including outrageous or embarrassing acts.