Avoidance response

An avoidance response is a form of escape behavior present in animals in which the subject evades an aversive event. This can be due to anxiety or a frightening situation. Avoidance response is a response that is not necessarily conditioned before being exposed to in the stressful or fearful situation; the stimuli could be neutral. See for example studies involving avoidance response.

Avoidance responses are used in animal training and are the commonly expected response to behavioural modification using negative reinforcement. Common examples of avoidance responses in animal training are:

• a horse submits to the bit (slowing or stopping) in order to avoid the pressure or pain that the bit causes in its mouth if it is jerked back.
• a dog learns to walk quietly at a handler's side in order to avoid being choked by its leash.

See also

• Escape response
• Startle reaction
• Flight zone
• Fight-or-flight response