Which type of conflict would Kurt Lewin classify as choosing between two prestigious PhD counseling programs?

• A. Approach-Avoidance Conflict
• B. Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict
• C. Approach-Approach Conflict
• D. Double-Approach Conflict

Answer: (D)

When two appealing options pull you in opposite directions, you’re dealing with an approach-approach conflict in Lewin’s framework. Here, the pull comes from two desirable outcomes rather than one appealing option and one negative aspect. In the scenario of choosing between two prestigious PhD counseling programs, both paths offer strong benefits—prestige, fit, future opportunities—so you feel drawn toward both. The struggle isn’t about avoiding something unwanted; it’s about deciding which attractive path to pursue and giving up the other. Some terminology refers to this as a double-approach conflict, underscoring the presence of two positive directions you could take. The situation is a textbook example because the tension arises from competing positive directions, and the resolution is selecting one option.