Denial (Freud)
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Denial or abnegation (
The subject may use:
- simple denial: deny the reality of the unpleasant fact altogether
- rationalization)
- blamingsomebody or something else
Description
The theory of denial was first researched seriously by
Many contemporary psychoanalysts treat denial as the first stage of a
Unlike some other defense mechanisms postulated by
Denial is especially characteristic of mania, hypomania, and generally of people with bipolar affective disorder in the manic stage – in this state, one can deny, remarkably a long period of time, the fact that one has fatigue, hunger,
Denial and disavowal
Freud employs the term Verleugnung (usually translated either as "disavowal" or as "denial") as distinct from Verneinung (usually translated as "denial" or as "abnegation"). In Verleugnung, the defense consists of denying something that affects the individual and is a way of affirming what he or she is apparently denying. For Freud, Verleugnung is related to
Types
Denial of fact
In this form of denial, someone avoids a fact by utilizing deception. This lying can take the form of an outright falsehood (commission), leaving out certain details to tailor a story (omission), or by falsely agreeing to something (assent). Someone who is in denial of fact is typically using lies to avoid facts they think may be painful to themselves or others.
Denial of responsibility
This form of denial involves avoiding personal responsibility by:
- blaming: a direct statement shifting culpability and may overlap with denial of fact
- minimizing: an attempt to make the effects or results of an action appear to be less harmful than they may actually be
- justifying: when someone takes a choice and attempts to make that choice appear acceptable due to their perception of what is right in a situation
- regression: when someone acts in a way unbecoming of their age[10]
Someone using denial of responsibility is usually attempting to avoid potential harm or pain by shifting attention away from themselves.
Denial of impact
Denial of impact involves a person's avoiding thinking about or understanding the harms of his or her behavior has caused to self or others, i.e. denial of consequences. Doing this enables that person to avoid feeling a sense of guilt and it can prevent him or her from developing remorse or empathy for others. Denial of impact reduces or eliminates a sense of pain or harm from poor decisions.[10]
Denial of awareness
This form of denial attempts to divert pain by claiming that the level of awareness was inhibited by some mitigating variable. This is most typically seen in addiction situations where drug or alcohol abuse is a factor, though it also occasionally manifests itself in relation to mental health issues or the pharmaceutical substances used to treat mental health issues. This form of denial may also overlap with denial of responsibility.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Niolon, Richard (April 8, 2011). "Defenses". psychpage.com. Richard Niolon. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
- ^ Freud, Sigmund (1925). "Die Verneinung".
- ISBN 978-0465019946.
- PMID 6853047.
- .
- ^ McWilliams, Nancy (2011). Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, Second Edition: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. The Guilford Pres.
- ^ Salomon Resnik, The Delusional Person: Bodily Feelings in Psychosis, Karnac Books, 2001, p. 46.
- ^ Freud uses the term verleugnen in "The Loss of Reality in Neurosis and Psychosis" (1924).
- ISBN 0-02-865924-4
- ^ S2CID 23446846.
- PMID 11494588.
Further reading
- Ogden, Sofia K.; Biebers, Ashley D., eds. (2011). Psychology of Denial (1st ed.). ISBN 9781616680947.
- Gray, Peter O. (2011). Psychology (6th ed.). ISBN 9781429219471.
- Columbia Encyclopedia. 2003.
- Davidhizar, R.; Poole, V.; Giger, J.N.; Henderson, M. (June 1998). "When your patient uses denial". The Journal of Practical Nursing. 48 (2): 10–4. PMID 9687661.