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Humans and animals live in social relationships shaped by actions of approach and avoidance. Both are crucial for normal physical and mental development, survival, and well-being. Active withdrawal from social interaction is often induced by the perception of threat or unpleasant social experience and relies on adaptive mechanisms within neuronal networks associated with social behavior. In case of confrontation with overly strong or persistent stressors and/or dispositions of the affected individual, maladaptive processes in the neuronal circuitries and its associated transmitters and modulators lead to pathological social avoidance. This review focuses on active, fear-driven social avoidance, affected circuits within the mesocorticolimbic system and associated regions and a selection of molecular modulators that promise translational potential. A comprehensive review of human research in this field is followed by a reflection on animal studies that offer a broader and often more detailed range of analytical methodologies. Finally, we take a critical look at challenges that could be addressed in future translational research on fear-driven social avoidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial gives an introduction to the special issue of the journal 'Motivation and emotion' on contemporary research, on approach and avoidance motivation. There is specific behavioral patterns associated with organized capacity, to approach or engage some objects, or to withdraw or avoid them. The linkage of approach and withdrawal behaviors are complex and necessitate basic research. The significance of these is presented in understanding the complexities of motivation.