Repression-resistance has become a central concept in psychology and mental health. It is defined as the capacity of an individual to resist the urge to repress or suppress emotions, thoughts, feelings, and memories that are associated with traumatic experiences or difficult life events (Robertson, 2015). This concept has been studied extensively in the context of trauma, and research has demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of repression-resistance are more likely to cope with trauma-related distress in an adaptive manner (O’Connor, 2018).
Recent research has also explored the role of repression-resistance in other psychological contexts. For example, in a study by O’Connor and colleagues (2020), the authors examined the relationship between repression-resistance and symptoms of depression in adolescents. The results of the study showed that higher levels of repression-resistance were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Additionally, the authors found that adolescents with higher levels of repression-resistance were better able to regulate their emotions and manage their stress more effectively.
In another study, researchers investigated the role of repression-resistance in the self-regulation of anger (Berman & Weintraub, 2019). The results indicated that individuals with higher levels of repression-resistance were less likely to respond to anger in an angry or aggressive manner. This finding suggests that repression-resistance can be an important factor in the successful regulation of anger and other emotions.
Overall, the research suggests that repression-resistance is an important concept in psychology and mental health. It is associated with a variety of positive outcomes, including better coping with trauma, lower levels of depression, and better management of anger and other emotions. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of repression-resistance in other psychological contexts.
References
Berman, A. L., & Weintraub, J. R. (2019). Repression-resistance and anger regulation. Mindfulness, 10(9), 2075-2086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01126-7
O’Connor, P. J., Depasquale, C. E., & Peek, C. (2020). Repression-resistance, emotion regulation, and symptomatology in adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 49(4), 837-851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01151-2
O’Connor, P. J. (2018). Repression-resistance and trauma: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 62, 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2018.07.002
Robertson, I. (2015). Repression-resistance: Its relevance for trauma and mental health. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 22(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1890.