We’ve all been in situations where an adult threw tantrums when frustrated like a kid… Or that professional colleague of ours that gave us a cold shoulder like a teenager after we had failed to notify them of a meeting ?
Call it Regression.
The term regress, according to the English dictionary, refers to the act of moving backwards to an earlier stage ie; to devolve.
Regression hence may have different definitions based on the field of study in question ie; A mathematical definition is different from the psychological one. But here let’s stick to the psychological definition.
What’s the Meaning of Regression defense mechanisms .
Regression defense mechanism is where we revert to behaviours, emotional reactions and thought patterns that are associated with am earlier stage of life to manage current conflicts that come from the external world or within.
When we encounter a threat may it be stress, fear or any anxiety-arousing situation, our mind in attempt to make us feel secure or comfortable unconsciously makes us revert to what worked out earlier in the past.
We’re seeking a temporary comfort from a present overwhelming situation and only what worked in the past is what we can rely on.
“If it worked in the past then it can work again”Â
Sigmund Freud on RegressionÂ
Sigmund Freud talked about Regression in his work, The Interpretation of Dreams (1914) .
To Freud , Neurosis was a product of inhibition in development, fixation, and regression. These inhibitions led to fixations that could easily be reverted to incase of external difficulties through regression.
Regressive behaviours vary based on the stage of fixation for instance; That at the oral stage might result in excessive eating or smoking or verbal aggression unlike that fixated at the anal stage that would result to tidiness or messiness or stubbornness.
Anna. Freud on RegressionÂ
Anna Freud also expanded on the idea of Regression in her seminal work, The Ego and Mechanisms of defence (1936).
She considered Regression an immature defense mechanism that one reverts to when one fails to deal with a conflict in a mature way.
Just like his father, Anna suggested that people act out behaviors from the stage of psychosexual development in which they are fixated.
For Instance, an individual fixated at an earlier developmental stage might cry or sulk upon hearing unpleasant information.
Examples of Regression.
We have encountered the common advise against helping a kid to tie his/her shoe laces… Probably in future they may wait for people to come and help instead of developing self-reliant skills.
A kid who feels abandoned after the birth of his/her sibling may in attempt to get attention unconsciously wet his/her bed for attention or the comfort from the parents.
Unconsciously, adults who get unwell may want to inform everyone so that they can get attention or sympathy. Some even fake it for that’s how they earned attention in childhood.
Imagine a scenario where a parent takes a kid to school on the first day. The kid however becomes clingy to the parent when the later is set to go back at home. This a regression to the dependency the kid had to the parent.
Sometimes crying might be a regressive tendency especially when faced with a situation that may trigger guilt. Instead of admitting mistakes one starts crying while blaming others for being unfair, tactic that had been used in childhood.
An individual who is prompted to speak but has a fear of public speaking, unconsciously starts acting sick to avoid the responsibility.
To attain the affection gained in childhood, one may resort to pleasing the boss at job by being loyal and an extreme worker proving to the boss how better they’re to other colleagues. Such individuals had competitive issues in childhood and their very pleasing behaviour is a regression to what worked in childhood.
An individual who constantly complains and whines when feeling helplessly or less in control of an obligation. One may blame factors that may be out of control.
Author Robert Greene in his book, The law of human nature, explains how despite adults feelings of being relatively mature and practical, love makes one to regress to behavior that can only be seen as childish.The fears and insecurities that are greatly exaggerated. He likened the terror at the thought of being abandoned to a baby who has been left alone for a few minutes.
The flight trauma response can also be used as an example of regression for instance; When you’re in a familly or staff meeting and one expresses an uncomfortable truth or idea to a colleague then the later storms out of the meeting. An example pf acting out but in regressive manner.
Exaggerated emotional responses such as yelling in face of an uncomfortable situation or interaction is also an example of regression.
Regression can also be seen from a positive aspect for instance; When one resorts to nostalgic activities like Watching television , playing with a pet or enjoying a hobby.
Generally, Regression involves;
Codependency
Avoidance
Exaggerated emotional responses
Unconsciously Reverting back.
Regression and Avoidance.
Regression and avoidance can work in tandem but are not the same. Unlike regression which involves reverting to an earlier behaviour, emotional or thought pattern, Avoidance is the mechanism through which we unconsciously prevent an anxiety-arousing situation to happen.
Regression might involve avoidance of anxiety or mental discomfort associated with a current situation by reverting to a mode that worked before.
Regression and Repetition Compulsion.
Repetition Compulsion is where one unconsciously recreates past childhood dynamics in attempt to resolve unresolved conflicts and meet unfulfilled wishes. For Instance; A girl raised by an emotionally unavailable father may unconsciously be attracted to Emotionally unavailable men in attempt to resolve and master her past… Possible by getting alternative results.
Regression helps us cope with external and internal threats and may be noticed in childhood, teenage hood or adulthood.
The regressor is unaware that the behavior in display is just a mechanism his/her mind borrowed from his/her past experiences.
Regression vs Modern Psychology perspective.
Modern Psychologists emphasize that what is referred to as in Freudian terms as regression is just but a reaction to a situation that triggers a memory that is associated with that situation. The individual hence acts the age which the wound was formed.
When the pain is triggered, the mind pulls one to the moment it first felt unsafe hence the reactions, fears, tone, and defenses. The mind protects itself using the only tools it had back then.
Other cognitive behavioral psychologist also claim that the regressive behaviours and emotional responses are just but learned behaviours and responses on how one responds to situations. They’re like habits.
But all these arguments still point back to earlier stages of development. Whether it’s a trigger and we have to rely on the tools and copying mechanisms associated with that earlier memory or experience. Or maybe it’s a behaviour that was learned of course in the past we can say Regression happens when we depend or revert to that earlier behaviour or emotional reaction associated with an early stage of development.
Effects of Regression.
Provides temporary relief from discomfort that is caused by a current situation.
May make one avoid current responsibility that might be overwhelming.
It may impend personal growth when we remain stagnant to mechanisms associated with earlier stages.
Repeatedly acting out the regressive behaviours might make it become a habit.
Most regressive behaviours and emotional reactions are always irrational in nature and may cause further feeling of discomfort that arises from guilt or shame that ensues.
Also the childish regressive behaviours may irritate those around us.
How to Manage Regression.
It’s difficult to manage regressive behaviours and reactions for they’re irrational in nature but there are ways we can for instance;
Awareness – Being aware is the first step to any form of psychological change for you can’t change anything you aren’t aware of. This may be through introspection and being mindful of your behaviors.
Journaling also helps one solve a problem. By writing down how you reacted and the situation that made you react, we can now find other alternatives ways of responding.
Note down the alternative way of acting out or reacting. There’s always an alternative to what is acted out. Maybe instead of throwing the tantrums, one may had chose to communicate calmly. Maybe instead of storming out of the meeting, one may try to communicate how they feel inside or waited. Maybe instead of waiting for help, one may develop self-reliant mechanisms.
Sometimes, gradual exposure might also help. For instance, an individual with a fear of public speaking might try to develop his/her abilities to communicate in every day small encounters instead of curling up like a young kid making excuses or faking illnesses.
Pause before responding. These learned reactions and behaviours are always automatic in nature and may be quick. Before reacting, train yourself to pause before responding. It’s after we react that we find ourselves regretting our actions.