The cognitive arrest hypothesis of denial

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychoanalytic Theory
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Denial is a fundamental defense mechanism in psychoanalytic theory.
• Understanding the cognitive and affective processes underlying denial is crucial for psychological analysis.
• Previous research has explored denial, but a detailed microanalysis of its phases is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a microanalysis of the psychic actions and processes in four phases of the denial defense mechanism.
• To elucidate the sequence from preconscious danger appraisal to screen behavior.
• To detail the cognitive and fantasy-based processes during cognitive arrest.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of psychic processes.
• Examination of the four phases of denial: preconscious appraisal, painful affect, cognitive arrest, and screen behavior.
• Focus on the unconscious fantasy attacks during cognitive arrest and their impact on thinking.

Main Results:

• Denial involves preconscious danger appraisal leading to painful affect.
• Painful affect triggers a shift in attention, causing cognitive arrest.
• Cognitive arrest involves unconscious fantasy attacks, leading to primary process thinking and subsequent screen behavior.

Conclusions:

• Denial is a complex defense mechanism involving distinct cognitive and affective phases.
• Screen behavior serves to fill gaps, substitute object relations, and support denial.
• Auxiliary defenses often accompany denial, particularly during the screen behavior phase.