An escapist is someone who doesn't live in the real world, but dreams, wishes, and fantasizes instead. If you're an escapist, you might avoid thinking about unpleasant things by playing video games for hours. Some escapists can withdraw into their own heads, distracting themselves with daydreams.
Escapism is the opposite of mindfulness - that is living in the moment, of living mindfully. It may be that for you, facing reality is simply too terrifying.
Escapism in the form of self-suppression stems from motives to run away from unpleasant thoughts, self-perceptions, and emotions, whereas self-expansion stems from motives to gain positive experiences through the activity and to discover new aspects of self.
What is the origin of escapism? Escapism, originally an Americanism, is a compound of escape and the suffix –ism, first appearing in 1933.
“During traumatic experiences, many individuals naturally 'escape' the situation mentally in order to avoid further distress and psychological harm.”
Dissociation
Dissociation is one of the most powerful defense mechanisms. Psychology surrounding dissociation centers on escapism – mentally separating yourself from your body (depersonalization) or environment (derealization) – to distance yourself from overwhelming experiences.
Two dimensions of escapism were proposed: self-suppression and self-expansion. Self-suppression escapism derives from motivation to avoid negative evaluation of self by getting focused on an activity, whereas self-expansion is motivated from facilitations of positive experiences by getting immersed in an activity.
Dissociation is often considered a coping or defence mechanism, a way of tolerating stress, boredom or conflict. For some people, dissociation is a form of extreme escapism.
“Escapism is the opposite of mindfulness – that is living in the moment, or living mindfully. It may be that, for you, facing reality is simply too terrifying. This is at the root of your anxiety, the fear of 'doing the living', becoming frightened of your own existence,” says psychotherapist Amanda Perl.
Escapism is momentary and brief, reinvigorates us and helps us to return to reality with renewed strength to face our challenges. Avoidance however is when we're using escapism to consciously or unconsciously ignore a problem or feelings that we're uncomfortable experiencing.
Escapism becomes harmful when it becomes avoidance, and it can involve partaking in unhealthy activities or even healthy ones in excess. For example, shopping isn't automatically bad. However, if you shop to make yourself feel better and avoid difficult feelings, it becomes a negative thing.
Studies have suggested those who use escapism are often depressed. It seems if we don't deal with our issues, and we avoid them we could be at risk of developing a higher level of depressive symptoms.
It can help reduce stress
This is perhaps one of the most common reasons we turn to escapism. Getting lost in a favourite book, daydreaming while listening to a song or playing a video game can all help us switch off, release tension and reduce stress.
Procrastination—the cousin of escapism
Escapist tendencies are often a symptom of procrastination—but they're not necessarily the same. Procrastination, like escapism, doesn't need to be an inherently bad thing—all it needs is a deeper look into why it's happening so you're better prepared to manage it.
If you have a tendency to daydream (a lot), then you could be an escapist. Escapists are people who want to create their own reality whilst they go about their daily routine. And these day dreams don't tend to happen purposefully; they actually happen quite naturally when you don't expect it.
A person's escapism might consist of playing video games, reading books, or fantasizing about living in a foreign country. Some see escapism as negative, hiding an underlying sadness or depression, while others insist that everyone indulges in escapism to some extent.
Attending movies, listening to the radio, dancing to live music, and reading cheap magazines or books containing sensational or gruesome material, popularly known as pulp fiction, allowed people to escape from the uncertainties, anxieties, and loss of self esteem associated with the Depression years.
Background: Escapism is a tendency to seek escape and distraction from reality or real-life problems. Past research regards escapism as a negative inducement that leads to adverse consequences when combined with substance use and other addictive activities.
This list is sometimes shortened to provide only seven main defense mechanisms, which are denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, repression, and sublimation.
Forms of passive escapism are considered activities which allow consumers to free their mind from their current conditions but do not require much from consumers in terms of cognitive efforts or interactivity beyond their attention and appreciation.
Here are a few common defense mechanisms:
Denial. Repression. Projection.
Adults may display sleep problems, increased agitation, hypervigilance, isolation or withdrawal, and increased use of alcohol or drugs. Older adults may exhibit increased withdrawal and isolation, reluctance to leave home, worsening of chronic illnesses, confusion, depression, and fear (DeWolfe & Nordboe, 2000b).