What does repression mean?
Repressed Meaning
Lots of people are interested in the concept of repression in psychology. But, this term has different meanings. This article covers a specific form of repression that has implications for your health. We also cover some techniques for responding to repression.
Repress Definition
Repression involves hiding or blocking negative feelings and thoughts to keep a positive self-image (1).
Repression occurs in different ways. Here are a couple of examples:
Worrying how people see you and telling them 'I'm fine' while fighting to hide negative emotions.
Avoiding discussions with other people about their psychological difficulties to maintain a positive exterior.
We can think of repression as a coping style. 'Repressors' experience minimal distress but high physical (physiological) arousal (e.g., racing heart, feeling 'on-edge') (2). In this way, the link between the body and brain gets disconnected. People who repress are mentally on-guard for internal 'threats' (negative thoughts, feelings, physical sensations). Once detected, these threats are avoided through various thinking strategies (3).
Some link repression to health problems ranging from heart disease to cancer (4, 5, 6). These consequences suggest the need to reduce repressive coping.
Repress synonym
Several psychological concepts link to repression. For example, issues involving self-image concerns, such as social anxiety and low self-esteem, are similar. However, people who repress do not necessarily fear social situations (1).
Definition of Repressive
Other meanings of repression exist.
Sigmund Freud used the term about a theorised blocking of primitive desires to function in modern society.
Another example is repressed memory. This controversial concept involves involuntary and automatic blockage of traumatic memories (7).
Beyond the individual, 'state repression' is when authoritarian regimes act to stop dissent (8). However, we are interested in individual repression to preserve a positive self-image. But, let's bring things back to the personal level...
What can I do about repression?
We have techniques to reduce repression as a coping style. Treating repression involves three primary skills:
Recognising and describing unpleasant psychological experiences.
Tolerating these negative inner states.
Re-evaluating thinking patterns that support avoidance and over-emphasis on positive self-image.
Recognising and describing
We can borrow several strategies from Mindfulness and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). The ability to detect and describe unpleasant psychological states is a fundamental skill that shouldn't be under-valued. Read this article on notice and name to get started.
Tolerating negative states
Tolerating involves 'leaning in' and 'sitting with' unpleasant states. Some people benefit by viewing internal experiences as an interested observer. Others develop tolerance through breathing and expansion exercises. Distress tolerance is another skill area to try.
Thinking patterns
Many problematic thought patterns are linked to a focus on positive self-image. Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting a positive self-image. But here we are talking about an over-emphasis and resulting consequences (e.g., ignoring warning signs of serious psychological issues). Examples of thinking patterns to address in repression:
Fear of negative evaluation.
Unrealistic expectations of self-image.
Inflated sense of threat towards difficult inner states.
We examine these thoughts for accuracy, logic, and usefulness. You can find examples of cognitive techniques on my skills videos page.
We are Coaching & Clinical Psychologists with extensive experience helping people conquer a range of wellbeing and performance issues at home and in the workplace. Read more about our work, watch practical skills videos or browse other articles. Get in touch anytime.
References
(1) Garssen B. (2007). Repression: finding our way in the maze of concepts. Journal of behavioral medicine, 30(6), 471–481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-007-9122-7
(2) Myers, L. B. (2000). Identifying repressors: A methodological issue for health psychology. Psychology and Health, 15(2), 205-214. 10.1080/08870440008400301
(3) Derakshan, N., Eysenck, M.W. and Myers, L.B. 2007. Emotional information processing in repressors: The vigilance-avoidance theory. Cognition & Emotion, 21: 1585–1614.
(4) Denollet, J., Martens, E.J., Nyklicek, I., Conraads, V. and de Gelder, B. 2008. Clinical events in coronary patients who report low distress: Adverse effect of repressive coping. Health Psychology, 27: 302–308.
(5) Giese-Davis, J., DiMiceli, S., Sephton, S. and Spiegel, D. 2006. Emotional expression and diurnal cortisol slope in women with metastatic breast cancer in supportive-expressive group therapy. Biological Psychology, 73: 190–198.
(6) Mund, M., & Mitte, K. (2012). The costs of repression: a meta-analysis on the relation between repressive coping and somatic diseases. Health psychology: official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 31(5), 640–649. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026257
(7) Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Dodier, O., Lilienfeld, S. O., Loftus, E. F., Lynn, S. J., Merckelbach, H., & Patihis, L. (2021). Belief in Unconscious Repressed Memory Persists. Perspectives on psychological science: a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 16(2), 454–460. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691621990628
(8) Young, L. (2019). The Psychology of State Repression: Fear and Dissent Decisions in Zimbabwe. American Political Science Review, 113(1), 140-155. doi:10.1017/S000305541800076X
