Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Seek It?TypesDownsidesPositives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why Seek It?
Types
Downsides
Positives
Inpsychology, escapism is when a person routinely uses an activity or behavior to escape life’s realities. It is a way of distracting the mind. Examples include social media, substance use, or playinggamesto avoid thinking about or facing something else, such as a relationship conflict or a stressful assignment deadline.
Learn about escapism, why people do it, the types, disadvantages, and more.
Justin Case / Getty Images.
Why Do People Seek Escapism?
People seek escapism to avoid pain or discomfort that occur as a normal part of life. It is also a survival tool for the mind to use to cope withtraumaticsituations or memories. While escapism is sometimes viewed as an unhealthy habit, it can be a helpful way of dealing with challenging problems,managing stresslevels, and balancing emotions safely and in moderation.
Escapism has been found to have positive effects, such as relaxation and mood repair, and negative consequences, such as excessive media use and withdrawal.
Any life change can lead to escapism, even if the change is positive. Life challenges and traumatic events can also lead to escapism. Feelings of sadness, fear,depression,anxiety, exhaustion, and lack ofself-esteemcan all increase the desire to escape.
Coping MechanismAcoping mechanismis a behavior people adopt to deal with a situation they feel is out of their control. Escapism is a type of coping mechanism.
Coping Mechanism
Acoping mechanismis a behavior people adopt to deal with a situation they feel is out of their control. Escapism is a type of coping mechanism.
Types of Escapism
There are different types of escapism. Scrolling through social media and daydreaming are types of escapism when they become habitual coping mechanisms to break from reality. Engaging in these types of activities is OK and can even be beneficial when done intentionally and in moderation.
However, escapism can be harmful if used too much. If you are engaging in a particular form of escape longer than you intended or doing it subconsciously, it is a cause for concern. For example, sitting down to take a five-minute break and play a game could turn into an hour or more, causing you to miss out on other activities or fall behind with responsibilities.
Common types of escapism are:
Possible Downsides of Escapism
There are many possible downsides of escapism. For example, escapism has been linked to excessive gambling, gaming, internet use, and psychological distress.Escapism can be used to suppress emotions instead of processing or feeling them.
Another disadvantage of escapism is lost time that manifests as missed school or work deadlines, falling behind on chores, and lower quality when tasks are completed. Escapism can also lead to withdrawal from social relationships and the realities of life. Some signs of this include friends and family members commenting about a decreased connection, missing social engagements, and not responding to messages.
Negative Effects of EscapismSome of the adverse effects of escapism include the following:AddictionDecreased productivityLoss of jobMental healthchallengesNot accomplishing goalsPhysical health challengesPoor performanceSubstance misuseRelationship challengesWithdrawal
Negative Effects of Escapism
Some of the adverse effects of escapism include the following:AddictionDecreased productivityLoss of jobMental healthchallengesNot accomplishing goalsPhysical health challengesPoor performanceSubstance misuseRelationship challengesWithdrawal
Some of the adverse effects of escapism include the following:
Escapism to Feel Good About Yourself
Despite the risks, escapism isn’t always bad. Sometimes it can be good. Daydreaming and imaginative play, for example, are healthy components of child development. Getting lost in a book can be an excellent way for readers of all ages to experience joy, exercise the brain, and reduce stress.
Physical activity is one of the essential cornerstones of health. Using physical activity as escapism to take a break from the stressors of the real world is a great way to keep stress low and creativity high.
However, excessive escapism is unhealthy when done at the expense of everything else and can lead to negative effects. And escapism in the form of alcohol or drugs is substance misuse.
One way to determine if your chosen escapism is healthy is to consider your motivation for participating in it. Exercise such as running is a healthy form of escapism if your goals are to increase positiveemotionsand promote well-being. An example of exercise as an unhealthy form of escapism is when your goals are to prevent or decrease negative emotions or as a form of punishment.
Summary
Escapism is the repeated use of an activity or behavior to distract the mind from reality or unpleasant emotions. Anyone who wants to avoid pain or discomfort may seek escapism. This may relate to life’s regular challenges, traumatic events, or situations. Many types of escapism include daydreaming, reading, physical activity, work, overeating, shopping, and addictive behaviors such as alcohol, drugs, other substances, pornography, and gambling.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rössler P, Hoffner CA, Zoonen L, eds.Escapism.The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects. 1st ed. Wiley; 2017. doi:10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0154Bianca, CS.D., Ramona, P.L. & Ioana, M.V.The relationship between coping strategies and life quality in major depressed patients.Egypt J Neurol Psychiatry Neurosurg58, 110 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s41983-022-00545-yJouhki H, Oksanen A.To get high or to get out? Examining the link between addictive behaviors and escapism.Subst Use Misuse. 2022;57(2):202-211. doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.2002897Jouhki H, Savolainen I, Sirola A, Oksanen A.Escapism and excessive online behaviors: A three-wave longitudinal study in Finland during the covid-19 pandemic.IJERPH. 2022;19(19):12491. doi:10.3390/ijerph191912491Chapman BP, Fiscella K, Kawachi I, Duberstein P, Muennig P.Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up.J Psychosom Res. 2013;75(4):381-385. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.014Stenseng F, Steinsholt IB, Hygen BW, Kraft P.Running to get “lost”? Two types of escapism in recreational running and their relations to exercise dependence and subjective well-being.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1035196. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1035196
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rössler P, Hoffner CA, Zoonen L, eds.Escapism.The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects. 1st ed. Wiley; 2017. doi:10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0154Bianca, CS.D., Ramona, P.L. & Ioana, M.V.The relationship between coping strategies and life quality in major depressed patients.Egypt J Neurol Psychiatry Neurosurg58, 110 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s41983-022-00545-yJouhki H, Oksanen A.To get high or to get out? Examining the link between addictive behaviors and escapism.Subst Use Misuse. 2022;57(2):202-211. doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.2002897Jouhki H, Savolainen I, Sirola A, Oksanen A.Escapism and excessive online behaviors: A three-wave longitudinal study in Finland during the covid-19 pandemic.IJERPH. 2022;19(19):12491. doi:10.3390/ijerph191912491Chapman BP, Fiscella K, Kawachi I, Duberstein P, Muennig P.Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up.J Psychosom Res. 2013;75(4):381-385. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.014Stenseng F, Steinsholt IB, Hygen BW, Kraft P.Running to get “lost”? Two types of escapism in recreational running and their relations to exercise dependence and subjective well-being.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1035196. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1035196
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rössler P, Hoffner CA, Zoonen L, eds.Escapism.The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects. 1st ed. Wiley; 2017. doi:10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0154Bianca, CS.D., Ramona, P.L. & Ioana, M.V.The relationship between coping strategies and life quality in major depressed patients.Egypt J Neurol Psychiatry Neurosurg58, 110 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s41983-022-00545-yJouhki H, Oksanen A.To get high or to get out? Examining the link between addictive behaviors and escapism.Subst Use Misuse. 2022;57(2):202-211. doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.2002897Jouhki H, Savolainen I, Sirola A, Oksanen A.Escapism and excessive online behaviors: A three-wave longitudinal study in Finland during the covid-19 pandemic.IJERPH. 2022;19(19):12491. doi:10.3390/ijerph191912491Chapman BP, Fiscella K, Kawachi I, Duberstein P, Muennig P.Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up.J Psychosom Res. 2013;75(4):381-385. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.014Stenseng F, Steinsholt IB, Hygen BW, Kraft P.Running to get “lost”? Two types of escapism in recreational running and their relations to exercise dependence and subjective well-being.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1035196. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1035196
Rössler P, Hoffner CA, Zoonen L, eds.Escapism.The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects. 1st ed. Wiley; 2017. doi:10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0154
Bianca, CS.D., Ramona, P.L. & Ioana, M.V.The relationship between coping strategies and life quality in major depressed patients.Egypt J Neurol Psychiatry Neurosurg58, 110 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s41983-022-00545-y
Jouhki H, Oksanen A.To get high or to get out? Examining the link between addictive behaviors and escapism.Subst Use Misuse. 2022;57(2):202-211. doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.2002897
Jouhki H, Savolainen I, Sirola A, Oksanen A.Escapism and excessive online behaviors: A three-wave longitudinal study in Finland during the covid-19 pandemic.IJERPH. 2022;19(19):12491. doi:10.3390/ijerph191912491
Chapman BP, Fiscella K, Kawachi I, Duberstein P, Muennig P.Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up.J Psychosom Res. 2013;75(4):381-385. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.014
Stenseng F, Steinsholt IB, Hygen BW, Kraft P.Running to get “lost”? Two types of escapism in recreational running and their relations to exercise dependence and subjective well-being.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1035196. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1035196
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
