There is only PVP if you want there to be. If you enable pacifist mode in settings then you can no longer damage other players or be attacked by other players. Almost no one I see in game ever engages in PVP. Everyone is either doing quests or cooperative events most of the time.
You can't enter PVP below level 5 so you're still safe from attack until you can opt-out. There is no reduced damaged anymore either if you're pacifist. That was changed a few years back. You take zero damage now. I'll link a reddit discussion about it
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I don't want to have to reach lvl 5 for the option to be available, I don't want to take reduced damage.
I want to be invulnerable to player action by default.
https://www.reddit.com/r/fo76/comments/nk4pgk/pvp_zero_damage_and_pacifist_mode_a_primer/