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Psychological Phenomena

Regression (Psychology)

Psychoanalytic Defense Mechanisms

In psychoanalytic theory, regression is a defense mechanism involving the reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of psychosexual development, as a reaction to an overwhelming external problem or internal conflict. Sigmund Freud invoked the concept in his 1900 theory of dreams and his 1905 work on sexual perversions, though the idea itself was first elaborated in his 1913 paper The Disposition to Obsessional Neurosis, and in 1914 he added a passage to The Interpretation of Dreams distinguishing three kinds of regression, which he called topographical, temporal and formal regression.

Facts
Partially Attested
First Described Year
1913 1
Source says Freud invoked the notion in 1900 (dreams) and 1905 (sexual perversions) but first elaborated the concept in 1913.
Core Claim
Regression is a defense mechanism involving the reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of psychosexual development, as a reaction to an overwhelming external problem or internal conflict. 1
Classification
Type of Phenomenon
Emotional Phenomenon 1
Connections

Associated With

Sigmund Freud, Psychologists

Invoked the concept of regression in his 1900 theory of dreams and elaborated it further in later work, distinguishing three kinds of regression.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Regression (psychology)
  • Lead, sentence 1
    a defense mechanism involving the reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of psychosexual development
  • Lead, sentence 2
    the concept itself was first elaborated in his paper "The Disposition to Obsessional Neurosis" (1913)
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
    In psychoanalytic theory, regression is a defense mechanism involving the reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of psychosexual development, as a reaction to an overwhelming external problem or internal conflict.
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