förträngningen

Förträngningen is a Swedish term that translates to "repression" in English. It is a psychological concept that refers to the unconscious exclusion of painful or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, memories, or desires from conscious awareness. This defense mechanism is believed to operate automatically, shielding the individual from emotional distress.

While originally a key concept in Freudian psychoanalysis, the idea of unconscious mental processes and defense mechanisms has been explored and expanded upon by various psychological theories. Förträngningen is thought to play a role in the development of neuroses and other psychological difficulties. When repressed material remains unresolved, it can manifest in various ways, such as anxiety, phobias, or psychosomatic symptoms.

The process of overcoming förträngningen typically involves bringing the repressed material back into conscious awareness, often through therapeutic interventions like psychoanalysis or psychodynamic therapy. By understanding and processing these unconscious conflicts, individuals may achieve greater emotional insight and psychological well-being. However, the effectiveness and universality of repression as a concept continue to be debated within psychology.