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Repetition compulsion revisited: implications for technique

L B Inderbitzin1, S T Levy

  • 1Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

The Psychoanalytic Quarterly
|March 12, 1998
PubMed
Summary
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Freud's concept of repetition compulsion, often linked to trauma, is critically reviewed. This paper argues for retiring the concept due to its negative impact on psychoanalytic treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Psychoanalytic theory
  • Clinical psychology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The concept of repetition compulsion is frequently used in psychoanalytic and psychiatric literature.
  • It has been applied to diverse clinical phenomena characterized by repetitive behaviors.

Observation:

  • This review critically examines Freud's repetition compulsion concept.
  • The relationship between repetition compulsion, trauma, and posttraumatic stress disorder is explored.

Findings:

  • The concept's technical legacy has fostered a pessimistic view of the analyzability of repetitive phenomena.
  • Specifically, it has obscured analyzable resistances linked to aggressive conflicts.

Implications:

  • The repetition compulsion is deemed an anachronistic concept with detrimental technical implications.

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  • The paper advocates for the retirement of the repetition compulsion concept from clinical practice and theory.