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Tearfulness: a psychoanalytic interpretation.

E C Wood, C D Wood

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association

|January 1, 1984

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Tearfulness arises when the ego is overwhelmed, temporarily halting verbal expression. This controlled regression allows the ego to process past conflicts, leading to emotional release and psychophysiological expression.

Area of Science:

Psychology
Psychoanalysis

Background:

The tearful state is a complex emotional and cognitive phenomenon.
Understanding its origins is crucial for psychotherapeutic interventions.

Observation:

Tearfulness occurs when the ego feels threatened by overwhelming memories and affects.
Verbal expression is temporarily delayed during this state.

Findings:

A controlled regression allows the ego to connect current experiences with past conflicts.
This process involves the ego relating to the present object as a transference object.
The tearful feeling primitively expresses frustration and a wish for relief from internal conflict.

Implications:

Tearfulness serves as a psychophysiological outlet for the ego experiencing "too much."

Related Experiment Videos

It facilitates the working through of earlier conflicts, reducing ego disruption.

Recognizing tearfulness as a defense mechanism can inform therapeutic strategies.