avoidance behavior

any act or series of actions that enables an individual to avoid or anticipate unpleasant or painful situations, stimuli, or events, including conditioned aversive stimuli. See avoidance conditioning. Compare escape behavior.

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Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

Ballet’s disease

a disorder marked by the loss of movements of the eye and pupil while autonomic responses remain normal. The condition is associated with hyperthyroid disorders, such as exophthalmic goiter (see exophthalmos). Also called Ballet’s sign; ophthalmoplegia externa. [Gilbert Ballet (1853–1916), French neurologist]