The avoidant personality is characterized by a preference to remain in the comfort zone and a fear of novel or uncomfortable situations. If we have the tendency to be avoidant skiers, we are anxious about facing unfamiliar situations, but at the same time, this avoidance can be interpreted as a failure, which may compromise low self-esteem and increases the sense of inadequacy.
The avoidant personality is identified as soon as the dangerous object is avoided. Like a paranoid behavior, it is based on a preceding projection, or persecutory situation, which then sets up the phobias. A practical method to break with the avoidant structure is to confront the dangerous object with another person on whom we project as a good object. In certain situations, that companion could be anyone, but in others it requires that it be someone with certain characteristics that imply or reflect protection, such as an instructor.
When we think or feel that we did something wrong, and for that reason could be criticized, we generate behaviors tending to avoid what is wrong. On the other hand, if we believe that the person judging us has a certain feeling or affinity towards us and wishes us well, we will tend to feel safer and calmer because it will allow a better connection between the two. The bond generated between the learner or athlete and his instructor or coach influences the behavior of those in terms of self-criticism.
If we have avoidant tendencies when skiing, then our characteristics could be the following:
- Experiencing feelings of inadequacy.
- Need social acceptance without criticism.
- Avoid personal risks and participating in new activities.
- Are prone to exaggerate dangers.
- Prefer limited skiing due to our need for certainty and security.
- Have a preference for routine.
Skier’s personality with a tendency to dependence
Among the causes for the origin of the skier with a dependent personality are the followings:
- Negative experiences during the beginner stage.
- Perceived insecurity of his technical resources.
- Lack of orientation on the mountain.Natural tendency toward anxiety.
- Hereditary traits.
The following characteristics may show if we are skiers with a dependent tendency:
- Feeling uncomfortable skiing alone because we are afraid of not being able to take care of ourselves.
- Exhibiting a constant need to be taken into account.
- Expecting others to be responsible for our own skiing.
- Need the advice and confirmation of others before making decisions and very often we let others do it.
- Suffering from anxiety, although without reason to have it, when thinking about the possibility of abandonment by those we depend on.
- May go to the extreme of agreeing with others even in risky situations so as not to lose support or approval.
- Lacking self-confidence in our abilities and interpreting criticism as evidence of own incapacity.
- In certain cases, behaving incompetently to avoid being neglected or left to our own devices.
- Evading the responsibility of learning skills in order to avoid having to achieve independent skiing and thus remain dependent on other skiers.
- Are prone to call for attention to get support.
- Have difficulty demonstrating self-initiative due to lack of self-confidence in our abilities.
