distress tolerance

the level of either (a) one’s unwillingness to experience emotional distress as part of pursuing desired goals or (b) one’s inability to engage in goal-directed behaviors when experiencing distress. Low distress tolerance is related to a range of disorders, including borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders; some treatments (e.g., dialectical behavior therapy) are designed in part to raise an individual’s level of distress tolerance by habituating him or her to the experience of adapting to distress and other negative emotions.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

serial monogamy

see monogamy.