Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also known as Pervasive or Peristent Drive for Autonomy, is a hypothesized profile of Autism. It is characterized by extreme avoidance of demands due to a strong aversion to compliance rather than to the tasks themselves.
Common traits include:
Resists and avoids the ordinary demands of life
Uses social strategies as part of the avoidance
Appears sociable on the surface, but lacking depth in understanding of complex social situations
Experiences mood swings and impulsivity
‘Obsessive’ behavior, often focused on other people
Appears comfortable in role play and pretend play, sometimes to an extreme extent (this feature is not always present)
(PDA Society)
PDA Resources
Journal Articles
Other
Podcast Episode: Evolve with Dr. Tay episode 110: What is PDA?
Created in collaboration with Lauren Haley, M.Ed., BCBA, LBS, CTP of BetterCare LLC.