verdrängte

Verdrängte is the simple past tense form of the German verb verdrängen, meaning to push away or to suppress. It also functions as an adjective describing something that has been repressed or suppressed, as in verdrängte Erinnerungen (repressed memories). In everyday language, it can appear in phrases like er verdrängte seine Gefühle (he repressed his feelings) and die verdrängten Bedürfnisse (the repressed needs).

In psychology, Verdrängung is a well-known defense mechanism in psychoanalytic theory. It refers to keeping unacceptable impulses, traumatic memories, or painful emotions out of conscious awareness. The concept, originating with Sigmund Freud, has been influential but remains debated; contemporary research emphasizes memory malleability, dissociation, and the complex nature of trauma, including questions about the reliability of recovered memories.

Linguistically, verdrängen and its forms are common in German prose and conversation. As an attributive adjective, verdrängte describes entities that have been repressed, such as verdrängte Gefühle or verdrängte Wünsche, illustrating the connection between language and psychological concepts in everyday usage.

Etymologically, the verb blends the prefix ver- with drängen (to push), historically conveying the sense of pushing something away. The term has since broadened from physical displacement to include psychological and emotional suppression, while retaining its basic idea of removal from conscious consideration.

Related terms include Verdrängung (the act or process of repression) and verwandte Konzepte in trauma research and clinical psychology.