A Type of Motivated Forgetting in Which Anxiety Arousing

Motivated forgetting has developed into a popular and debated concept in psychology. It’s a popular concept referring to a specific psychological defense in which individuals consciously or unconsciously forget unwanted memories. Experts reveal that some memories are reminders of unpleasant experiences, leading to anxiousness, shame, fear, or sadness.

 

You can use the appropriate motivated forgetting method or type to protect yourself from them by blocking the recall or reminder of these anxiety-arousing memories. Studies show that repression is a type of motivated forgetting in which anxiety arousing. Read through the article to get an insight into this type of motivated forgetting.

 

 

What is Repression?

 

It’s the unconscious blocking of the conscious mind’s unpleasant memories, emotions, thoughts, and impulses. Sigmund Freud reveals that the primary purpose of this type of motivated forgetting is to minimize the feeling of anxiety and guilt. Despite this aspect being effective for calming difficult situations or emotions, it can generate more anxiety, leading to psychological distress.

 

Repression Vs. Suppression

 

Many individuals often confuse suppression with repression. Despite being in the same category of defense mechanisms, they have some differences. The primary difference is while suppression is wholly voluntary, repressions involve an unconscious process of blocking unwanted impulses or thoughts. Thus, suppression will deliberately involve trying not to think or forget various unwanted thoughts.

 

 

History of Repression

 

Experts reveal that understanding Freud’s view on the motivated forgetting types allows you to get how it works. Freud thought of the human mind as an iceberg, where what you see above the ground is the conscious kind. The submerged part but still visible represents the preconscious, while underneath, we have the unconscious mind.

 

Thus, you may never be aware of what is in the unconscious mind; but it can affect your life or behavior. These findings revealed that the unconscious mind might generate a powerful effect on your mind leading to psychological distress. Therefore, Freud worked hard to help patients or individuals uncover their unconscious feelings.

 

Freud developed the repression concept as the first defense mechanism. The experts believed the mechanism was essential as it focused on stimulating these unconscious feelings. After bringing the feelings, individuals could urge them into awareness to help them deal with them consciously.

 

 

Signs of Repression

 

We’ve got various physical symptoms that are associated with repressing unconscious thoughts or feelings. Various researchers have linked numerous symptoms and signs with this medical psychology type. Below are some of the signs:

 

• Fatigue

 

• High blood pressure

 

• Obesity

 

• Dizziness

 

• Neck, chest, back, and abdominal pain

 

• Headache.

 

Remember, repression may cause stressful feelings, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, you can also develop some repressed thoughts, memories, or emotions. These symptoms might result in subconscious actions like social media activities, addictions, or abusing drugs to prevent these feelings.

 

 

How Individuals Use Repression

 

Studies show that repression is an effective way for your mind to deal with difficult emotions or thoughts. You can use this aspect to improve social and psychological functioning. Remember, attaining repressive camping styles usually allows you to cope better with pain and experience less depression. Furthermore, repression can help improve the well-being of older individuals.

 

 

Impacts of Repression

 

Despite the numerous benefits of dealing with various inner issues, it also has some impacts. For instance, repressions result in retrieval-induced forgetting, making you forget other related information. Experts also advise against repeatedly calling some memories, as they may make most memories less accessible. This psychological aspect may manifest in the following ways:

 

 

Dreams

 

Freud revealed that dreams were a special way to peek or understand the unconscious mind. You can analyze the content of your dreams or events that take place in your dreams to learn more about the unconscious meaning of the dream. Remember, the most repressed feeling usually pops up in anxieties, desires, or fears we experience when dreaming.

 

 

A slip of the tongue

 

It’s another effective way to manifest repressed feelings and thoughts. Slipping your tongue while talking shows or reveals what you’re feeling or thinking on your unconscious level. Despite the repressed nature of the feelings or thoughts, there is a unique way you’ll speak them out without expecting. For instance, call your partner your workmate’s name with whom you have a deep connection with the workmate.

 

 

Oedipus or Electra complex

 

Kids go through or pass a special process during psychosexual development, where they see their same-sex parent or guardian as rivals. The kids usually repress these feelings, thoughts, or aggressions, helping them start better identifying with their same-sex guardians or parents. In boys, the feeling comes as the Oedipus complex, while in girls is the Electra complex.

 

 

Phobias

 

It’s another example of the way a repressed memory can continue to exert a certain influence on an individual’s behavior. For instance, when a dog bites a young kid, the kid will develop severe fear of dogs without having a memory of how the fear originated.

 

 

Controversies Surrounding Repression

 

Keeping notions or repressed thoughts or memories out of conscious awareness is usually traumatic or painful. These results create a lot of controversies. Let’s look at controversies about this topic:

 

 

Repression and psychoanalysis

 

Despite being a common term in psychology, this medical psychology aspect has numerous controversies. The aspect has been serving as a long-term core idea in psychology. Psychoanalysis reveals that repression can distort your reality, leading to dysfunction or neurosis. Despite the adverse effects on your dysfunction, we’ve got various therapeutic actions that help make psychological therapy successful.

 

 

Repression and memory

 

Researchers report that this medical psychology type results in various false memories. Many individuals usually believe that the repressive memories are accurate, despite not understanding when the events occurred. Furthermore, these thoughts and feelings lead to trauma, heightening memories of painful or stressful events. Thus, it may result in post-traumatic stress disorder due to vivid flashbacks.

 

 

Wrapping Up – a type of motivated forgetting in which anxiety arousing

 

A type of motivated forgetting in which anxiety arousing – Repression is a key aspect of motivated forgetting, which helps bring repressed thoughts and feelings to light, helping you change. Despite providing a key stepping stone to help you change, it may result in anxiety. Thus, you must understand all the aspects and how it works to get lasting changes and real relief.