Regression

Definition

Chaplin

1. A retreating.
2. A return to earlier levels of development; the manifestation in older individuals of more primitive levels of behavior. ¹

English & English

1. Moving backward.
2. A return to earlier and less mature behavior; or, manifestation of more primitive behaviors after having learned mature forms, whether or not the immature or primitive behavior had actually formed part of the person’s earlier behavior.

Quotes

Cabaniss, et al.

“Regression occurs when people go back to earlier ways of functioning to avoid anxiety-provoking feelings. People who generally function at a very high level may use this defense during periods of stress.”²

Victor Frankl

“The retreat of the [psyche]glossary-entries/psyche.html) into more primitive stages of animal impulse.” ³

Discussion

When pushed far enough, all of us return to some “childish” seeming way of dealing with a situation. And typically, the higher the level of stress we’re under, the more “primitive” our behaviour becomes. Road rage and emotional eating are good examples of this, but the regressive aspect is not that we perform a specific kind of behaviour, but that we often reach back in time, as it were, for a behaviour that we ourselves used as a child. Although I don’t agree with English & English that the behaviour we regress to must necessarily be one that we used in our own childhood, my experience both personally and with clients is nevertheless that this often is the case.

A temper tantrum is extremely effective at expressing any number of strong emotions that have become overwhelming: fear, anger, frustration, helplessness, exhaustion, boredom, and so on. Even as adults, we might in actual fact get our own way as a result, but only through frightening, frustrating, or exhausting others to the point that they simply give in and give us what we want. This is seen as maladaptive because although it is effective, it’s not productive; the outcome is usually an emotional net-negative for everyone involved.

Frankl’s reference to “animal impulse” above is the essence of regression, because the needs and emotions expressed are typically simple, powerful, and basic to the existential facts of life. Emotional eating, or drinking alcohol and taking drugs, are “regressive” because they manage loneliness and low self-esteem by quickly and directly creating good feelings that emulate the most basic, “infantile” need to be safe, warm, and fed. Yet they are an undesirable way of managing these feelings because of their long-term effects: chronic overeating leads to obesity and associated diseases like diabetes, and drugs and alcohol have a destructive effect on both mind and body even at small doses.

This is characteristic of all of the primitive defenses, they are immediate, direct, and effective, but in the medium- and long-term they are at best counter-productive, and at worst actively life-threatening.

References