Your Child’s Pervasive Drive for Autonomy
additudemag.com
Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is a nervous system difference characterized by an overwhelming need for autonomy and anxiety regarding perceived demands, rather than willful defiance. This condition, often linked to autism and ADHD, causes individuals to evade both external directives and internal expectations through complex avoidance strategies. Reframing PDA as a pervasive drive for autonomy offers a more productive understanding of the behavior and its underlying mechanisms.
All articles from 20 August 2026. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.