Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Repressed Memory

Repressed Memory

Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory revolutionized psychology by introducing the idea that unconscious forces significantly shape human behavior. According to Freud, every psychological event is driven by deep-seated internal forces, often formed during early childhood. His theory, built on the premises of psychic determinism, symbolic meaning, and unconscious motivation, offers a unique perspective on the complexities of human behavior.
Freud's concept of psychic determinism asserts that...

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapies emphasize the exploration of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as fundamental contributors to psychological difficulties. These therapies, deeply rooted in Freud's psychoanalytic theory, aim to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, granting individuals insights that promote emotional and behavioral healing. Contemporary psychodynamic approaches have evolved, integrating a broader range of influences and methodologies while still valuing the...

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development describes the anal stage as occurring between 18 months and three years of age. During this period, children derive pleasure from controlling and releasing their bowel movements. However, they quickly learn that societal expectations impose restrictions on when and where this can happen. This stage marks a critical point where children begin to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodily functions, as well as their broader...

Psychosexual Theory of Development

Psychosexual Theory of Development

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...

Structure of Self

Structure of Self

Sigmund Freud's model of the human psyche is often illustrated using an iceberg analogy. The iceberg's visible tip represents the conscious mind, which includes thoughts and perceptions that individuals are immediately aware of. However, the larger, submerged portion of the iceberg represents the unconscious mind, a reservoir of repressed desires, instincts, and memories. According to Freud, human behavior is primarily shaped by this hidden realm.
Components of the Mind: Id, Ego, and Superego

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Transference: The Matrix of the Frame.

The Psychoanalytic quarterly·2023

Same author

Medea by Euripides: psychic constructions for preverbal experiences and traumas.

The Psychoanalytic quarterly·2015

Same author

Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure, risk of schizophrenia, and severity of positive/negative symptoms.

Schizophrenia research·2013

Same author

Bodily manifestations in the psychoanalytic process.

The Psychoanalytic quarterly·2012

Same author

Assessment of sexual function in patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy--a single centre prospective study.

Anticancer research·2012

Same author

Suicidality in the "prodromal" phase of schizophrenia.

Comprehensive psychiatry·2010

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Repression and splitting in the psychoanalytic process.

Savvas Savvopoulos¹, Sotiris Manolopoulos, Stavroula Beratis

¹Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Patras, 265 04 Rion-Patras, Greece.

The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis

|February 18, 2011

Summary

This study explores repression and splitting in psychoanalysis, finding that patients shift from splitting to repression as their psychic organization advances. This evolution reflects a move from borderline to hysterical personality structures.

More Related Videos

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Area of Science:

Psychoanalytic theory
Psychodynamic psychology
Clinical psychology

Background:

Repression and splitting are key psychoanalytic defense mechanisms.
Repression evolved from explaining neurotic symptoms to encompassing normal development.
Splitting has diverse definitions, including within the ego and object relations.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the interplay between repression and splitting in the psychoanalytic process.
To compare these defense mechanisms developmentally and dynamically.
To illustrate their relationship to psychic functioning and psychic structure.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of psychoanalytic concepts.
Case study of a patient with borderline personality organization and narcissistic features.
Examination of defense mechanisms throughout the course of psychoanalysis.

Main Results:

Initially, splitting, projection, and idealization predominated in the patient's defenses.
As analysis progressed, repression became more prominent than primitive defenses.
A shift from splitting to repression correlated with a move from borderline to hysterical organization.

Conclusions:

The study demonstrates a developmental progression from splitting to repression in psychoanalysis.
This shift signifies an advancement in psychic organization and personality structure.
The findings contribute to understanding psychoanalytic nosology and defense mechanism evolution.