Exchange of Approach and Avoidance

Quite often, an approach mediator (means of hope) is also a saviour (means of fear removal). This occurs due to a negative evaluation of the lack of positive affect which has resulted from a lack of sufficient progress towards the approach object. This negative evaluation brings about negative affect. As a result, the approach mediator actually takes on the properties of a saviour, as it may be the only means of avoiding a feared object (i.e. lack of hope object). This lack of hope object may be called an anti-object, as it is a lack of an object as opposed to an actual object of fear. That is, the person actually fears the consequences of not making progress towards an approach object.

This creates a complex situation. A single means actually becomes both an approach mediator and a saviour. For example, money can be a means of approach toward a ‘being rich’ object. However, fear of being broke (fear object) leads to money also being a saviour, which removes the fear. To be clear:

• Hope object: Being rich
  
• Hope mediator: Money
  
• Fear anti-object: Being broke
  
• Fear saviour: Money