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Experiential avoidance as a functional dimensional approach to psychopathology

An empirical review

Bibliographic Data

ID23387201
AuthorsNeharika Chawla (University of Washington, corresponding author), Brian Ostafin, Brian D Ostafin (0000-0001-9739-2757, Dakota State University)
Year2007
Volume63
Issue9
Pages871-890
Publication date2007-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Clinical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9762 • E-ISSN: 1097-4679
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jclp.20400
PMID17674402
OpenAlexW2067271431
LanguageEN
Citations received162
References cited56

The construct of experiential avoidance has become more frequently used by clinical researchers. Experiential avoidance involves the unwillingness to remain in contact with private experiences such as painful thoughts and emotions and is often proposed to be critical to the development and maintenance of psychopathology. This review summarizes the empirical studies on experiential avoidance as a factor in the etiology of maladaptive behavior and its relationship to specific diagnostic categories. Although some of the current literature suggests that experiential avoidance may be implicated in various forms of psychopathology, a fundamental limitation of this research is the lack of theoretical integration and refinement with regard to operationalizing and assessing experiential avoidance. Future studies should attempt to understand the core processes involved in experiential avoidance better, and then clearly operationalize the construct and determine its incremental validity relative to other constructs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 871–890, 2007.

Anxiety · Cognitive psychology · Construct (python library) · Empirical research · Epistemology · Experiential avoidance · Experiential learning · Operationalization · Psychiatry · Psychopathology · Psychotherapist · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology · Psychology

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Unique citing works162
Citations per year10,13
Citation span2010 - 2026 (17)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 143
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