Avolition
Encyclopedia
Avolition is a psychological
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...

 state characterized by general lack of drive, or motivation to pursue meaningful goals. A person may show little participation in work or have little interest in socializing. They may sit still for long periods of time. It is commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...

, and is one of the four main "negative" symptom
Symptom
A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality...

s of that disorder, the others being flat affect, alogia
Alogia
In psychology, alogia , or poverty of speech, is a general lack of additional, unprompted content seen in normal speech. As a symptom, it is commonly seen in patients suffering from schizophrenia, and is considered as a negative symptom...

, anhedonia
Anhedonia
In psychology and psychiatry, anhedonia is defined as the inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable, e.g. hobbies, exercise, social interaction or sexual activity....

, and asociality
Asociality
Asociality is a symptom frequently observed in schizophrenia patients. It is characterised by an inability to 'empathise', to feel intimacy with, or to form close relationships with others ....

. It is sometimes mistaken for simple disinterest or anhedonia but is distinct. People with avolition may want to complete certain tasks but lack the motivation to complete them.

Literally meaning "poverty of will," it is a restriction in initiation and production of goal directed behavior. Abulia (poverty of motivation) - is a restriction in will or motivation, often characterized by an inability to set goals or make decisions.

The DSM-IV says of schizophrenia that if characteristic symptoms are two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 6-month period: delusion
Delusion
A delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...

s, hallucination
Hallucination
A hallucination, in the broadest sense of the word, is a perception in the absence of a stimulus. In a stricter sense, hallucinations are defined as perceptions in a conscious and awake state in the absence of external stimuli which have qualities of real perception, in that they are vivid,...

s, disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment
Thought disorder
In psychiatry, thought disorder or formal thought disorder is a term used to describe incomprehensible language, either speech or writing, that is presumed to reflect thinking. There are different types...

 or incoherence), grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia
Alogia
In psychology, alogia , or poverty of speech, is a general lack of additional, unprompted content seen in normal speech. As a symptom, it is commonly seen in patients suffering from schizophrenia, and is considered as a negative symptom...

, or avolition
.
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