Repression has been studied in the field of psychology for many years, and is defined as the act of preventing the expression of emotions or memories (Goleman, 1995). Repressed memories, or memories that have been suppressed due to trauma or other psychological reasons, can have a lasting impact on individuals and their relationships with others (Van der Kolk, Van der Hart, & Marmar, 1996).
In recent years, research has focused on understanding the role of repression in the development of mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is believed that when memories or traumatic events are repressed, they can become more intense and overwhelming when recalled (Friedman, 2008). This can cause the individual to experience higher levels of emotional distress, which can lead to PTSD (Friedman, 2008).
The role of repression in the development of PTSD has been further explored through the use of epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors can influence gene expression (Choudhary et al., 2017). Studies have shown that repression can lead to epigenetic changes, which can increase the risk of developing PTSD (Choudhary et al., 2017).
In addition to PTSD, studies have suggested that repression can also contribute to the development of depression (Meyer et al., 2016). Repression can lead to a decrease in positive emotionality, which can lead to increased levels of negative emotionality, such as depression (Meyer et al., 2016).
Overall, repression has been studied extensively in the field of psychology and is believed to be a major contributor to the development of mental health conditions, such as PTSD and depression. Further research is needed to better understand the role of repression in the development and maintenance of mental health disorders.
References
Choudhary, A. K., Maercker, A., & Gatt, J. M. (2017). The epigenetics of post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 77, 246–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.022
Friedman, M. J. (2008). Post-traumatic stress disorder: The history of a concept. In M. J. Friedman (Ed.), Post-traumatic stress disorder: Diagnosis, treatment, and legal issues (pp. 3–16). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
Meyer, B., Gawrysiak, M. J., Miller, J. D., & Steer, R. A. (2016). The role of repression in depression: An empirical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 51, 75–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.001
Van der Kolk, B. A., Van der Hart, O., & Marmar, C. R. (1996). Dissociation and information processing in posttraumatic stress disorder. In B. A. Van der Kolk, A. C. McFarlane, & L. Weisaeth (Eds.), Traumatic stress: The effects of overwhelming experience on mind, body, and society (pp. 303–335). New York, NY: Guilford Press.