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Concerning remorse: with special attention to its defensive function.
The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis
|July 1, 1983
Summary
Remorse, a painful feeling of guilt, can paradoxically help maintain relationships by internalizing others as judges. This defense guards against emptiness, especially when self-worth depends on others.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychoanalytic Theory
Background:
- Remorse is characterized by guilt and shame, stemming from both internal and external sources.
- It serves as a punishment for perceived wrongdoing, real or imagined.
Observation:
- Remorse can function to preserve relationships by internalizing the harmed individual as a judge.
- Painful memories and emotions associated with remorse may act as a defense against profound emptiness.
- This is particularly relevant for individuals whose sense of self is contingent on stable relationships.
Findings:
- The study explores the defensive and relationship-maintaining roles of remorse.
- It examines how remorse can prevent the loss of significant others through unconscious incorporative processes.
- The etymology of "remorse" (to bite again) highlights its persistent, self-punishing nature.
Implications:
- Understanding remorse's defensive function offers insights into therapeutic interventions for individuals struggling with self-worth and relationships.
- This perspective can inform treatments for conditions involving profound emptiness or attachment difficulties.
- The findings suggest that clinging to remorse may be an unconscious strategy to maintain a sense of self and connection.