regresses

Regresses is the third-person singular present tense of the verb regress, meaning to move backward to an earlier state or condition. The related noun regression denotes the process or result of regressing. The term derives from Latin regrescere, to go back.

In psychology and psychiatry, regression refers to a defense mechanism whereby an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage in response to stress, trauma, or conflict. This can include childish or dependent actions in adults or more simple, protective behaviors in children. Clinicians distinguish regressive symptoms from other coping patterns and may explore underlying anxieties, past experiences, or unmet needs when interpreting such behavior.

In earth science, shoreline regression describes the retreat of a coastline relative to the sea, resulting in the exposure of more land and the deposition of coastally derived sediments. It is the opposite of transgression, where sea level rises relative to the land. Regression can be influenced by factors such as sea level changes, tectonic uplift or subsidence, and sediment supply, and it is used in coastal geology and sequence stratigraphy to interpret past environmental conditions.

In statistics and data analysis, regression is a modeling approach that describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. The verb form regresses is used to indicate that the model regresses the dependent variable on the predictors, as in describing how outcomes change with explanatory factors.