Conceptualizing distress tolerance as goal pursuit.

Distress tolerance is widely studied in the empirical literature, but the construct remains conceptually ambiguous. This article presents a conceptual analysis that diagnoses problems with existing definitions and proposes a new theoretical approach. The proposal anchors distress tolerance to the tension between high-value goals (that matter over the long run) and distress-driven impulses (that matter momentarily). The theory relies on a heuristic called a distress tolerance conflict (DTC), which organizes the affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes involved in enacting distress tolerance. In a DTC, distress tolerance occurs when someone resists a distress-driven impulse that pulls for immediate escape and instead acts in support of a high-value goal. DTCs' potential clinical and research utility is discussed.