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Related Experiment Videos

Concerning remorse: with special attention to its defensive function.

M F Hoyt

    The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis
    |July 1, 1983
    PubMed
    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.

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    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.

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