Autorepressings

Autorepressings is a term used in psychology to describe self-imposed repression of thoughts, memories, emotions, or impulses. It encompasses both conscious suppression and unconscious inhibition, through which a person attempts to regulate mental content to maintain functioning, self-image, or social harmony. The concept overlaps with traditional ideas of repression and with contemporary theories of emotional regulation and cognitive control.

Mechanisms of autorepressings include deliberate suppression of unwanted memories or thoughts, attentional diversion away from distressing content, and the formation of cognitive strategies that reduce access to certain information. It also involves metacognitive monitoring, where individuals regulate their own cognitive and emotional responses to prevent disclosure or distress in specific situations. Neurocognitive research often frames autorepression in terms of prefrontal control over memory and affective processing, with related activity observed in networks involved in cognitive control and emotion regulation.

Contexts in which autorepressings may occur include dealing with trauma, managing anxiety or shame, maintaining performance under pressure, or navigating social expectations. In the short term, autorepression can reduce distress and facilitate adaptive behavior, but excessive or prolonged autorepression may impede emotional processing, insight, and recovery, potentially contributing to persistent symptoms or reduced well-being.

Relation to other concepts varies by author. Autorepressings is closely related to suppression (a conscious control strategy) and to repression (often framed as an unconscious process). Some scholars treat autorepression as a broader umbrella term; others prefer more precise terminology to distinguish voluntary regulation from involuntary defense mechanisms.

Critique and research directions emphasize the need for clear definitions, measurement approaches, and differentiation from related processes to improve interpretability in both clinical and experimental settings.