Pathological demand avoidance (PDA): Its four schools of thought

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Woods, R. (2021). Pathological demand avoidance (PDA): Its four schools of thought. Developmental Psychology Forum, 1(94), 10-14. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsdev.2021.1.94.10

Publication date: 1 Jan 2021 Added to AutiHub: 7 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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  1. Richard Woods *

Abstract

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a proposed Disorder, which is sometimes viewed to be an autism spectrum disorder. Is characterised by persistence avoidance of ordinary demands by non-autistic society, with persons frequently displaying social avoidance behaviours which can be considered "manipulative" or "strategic". Presently, there is much controversy surrounding PDA, partly because there is no conclusive evidence to indicate which features comprise PDA, and how it should be conceptualised. Thus, there are competing divergent schools of thought on how to view PDA. This short paper describes the four main worldviews on PDA besides it being an autism spectrum disorder. Firstly, PDA is also conceptualised as "rebranded autism", pathologising characteristics not assessed in an autism diagnosis. Secondly, a common disorder. Finally, PDA could be a pseudo-syndrome resulting from the simultaneous interaction between autism and common co-occurring conditions. I call for treating with PDA caution until good quality scientific method-based research indicates which outlook should be adopted.

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