Regression vs. Repression: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Regression is returning to an earlier or less advanced state, while repression is the act of suppressing thoughts or desires.
Key Differences
Regression refers to a return to a previous, often less developed state, behaviorally or psychologically. Repression, in contrast, involves the subconscious exclusion of uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or desires.
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Nov 21, 2023
In psychology, regression can be a defense mechanism where one reverts to earlier behaviors; it's often visible and conscious. Repression, however, is a subconscious process where disturbing thoughts are kept out of conscious awareness.
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Nov 21, 2023
Regression can be temporary and often triggered by stress, leading to childlike behaviors in adults. Repression is more about long-term exclusion of painful memories or impulses from conscious thought.
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Nov 21, 2023
Regression can be observed in behaviors and actions, like an adult throwing a tantrum. Repression manifests in forgotten memories or unexplained behaviors, originating from repressed thoughts.
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Nov 21, 2023
In statistics, regression analyzes relationships between variables, a different context from its psychological meaning. Repression does not have such a statistical application but remains within the realms of psychology and psychoanalysis.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Returning to a less advanced state
Suppressing thoughts or desires
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Manifestation
Observable behaviors
Forgotten memories, unexplained behaviors
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Regression and Repression Definitions
Regression
Reverting to less mature behaviors.
She exhibited regression in her speech when upset.
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Repression
The act of suppressing a thought or desire.
His anger was a result of repression of his true feelings.
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Nov 21, 2023
Regression
In statistics, a measure of the relationship between variables.
The regression analysis showed a strong correlation between the variables.
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Repression
A psychological mechanism to avoid cognitive dissonance.
He used repression to deal with conflicting emotions.
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Regression
Relapse into a former condition.
After the therapy, there was a regression in his symptoms.
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Repression
Keeping distressing thoughts out of conscious awareness.
She experienced repression of painful childhood memories.
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Regression
A return to an earlier developmental stage.
Under stress, he showed regression to childhood habits.
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Repression
The subconscious exclusion of uncomfortable feelings.
Repression of his fears led to anxiety.
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Regression
A decline to a less perfect state.
The disease caused a regression in his motor skills.
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Repression
In politics, the suppression of dissent or opposition.
The regime was known for its repression of free speech.
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Regression
The process or an instance of regressing, as to a less perfect or less developed state.
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Oct 19, 2023
Regression
(Psychology) In psychoanalytic theory, reversion to an earlier or less mature stage of psychological development.
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Repression
(Psychology) The unconscious exclusion of painful impulses, desires, or fears from the conscious mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repression
The act of repressing; state of being repressed.
History shows that when governments fear the truth and increase repression, their days are limited.
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Oct 19, 2023
Regression
(Statistics) A technique for predicting the value of a dependent variable as a function of one or more independent variables in the presence of random error.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repression
The involuntary rejection from consciousness of painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses.
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Repression
The act of repressing, or state of being repressed; as, the repression of evil and evil doers.
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Regression
(Geology) A relative fall in sea level resulting in deposition of terrestrial strata over marine strata.
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Repression
A state of forcible subjugation;
The long repression of Christian sects
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Repression
(psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious
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Regression
(psychotherapy) A psychotherapeutic method whereby healing is facilitated by inducing the patient to act out behaviour typical of an earlier developmental stage.
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Repression
The act of repressing; control by holding down;
His goal was the repression of insolence
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Regression
(statistics) An analytic method to measure the association of one or more independent variables with a dependent variable.
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Regression
(statistics) An equation using specified and associated data for two or more variables such that one variable can be estimated from the remaining variable(s). Category:en:Functions
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Regression
(programming) The reappearance of a bug in a piece of software that had previously been fixed.
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Regression
(medicine) The diminishing of a cellular mass like a tumor, or of an organ size.
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Regression
(exercise) The making an exercise less straining to perform by manipulating the details of its performance like loaded weight, range of motion, angle, speed.
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Regression
The act of passing back or returning; retrogression; retrogradation.
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Regression
(psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state
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Regression
The relation between selected values of x and observed values of y (from which the most probable value of y can be predicted for any value of x)
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is regression always negative?
Not always, but it often indicates a setback in psychological health.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can regression be a coping mechanism?
Yes, regression can be a coping mechanism in response to stress.
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Can regression be treated?
Yes, regression can be treated with therapy and psychological support.
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How does repression affect behavior?
Repression can affect behavior through unexplained anxieties or reactions.
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What causes regression in adults?
Regression in adults can be caused by stress or psychological distress.
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How does regression manifest in children?
In children, regression can appear as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, or baby talk.
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What is repression in psychology?
In psychology, repression is the subconscious act of keeping disturbing thoughts out of consciousness.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can repressed memories resurface?
Yes, repressed memories can resurface, sometimes triggered by specific events.
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Is regression a term used in statistics?
Yes, regression is used in statistics to describe relationships between variables.
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Is repression a conscious process?
No, repression is an unconscious process.
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Can repression lead to psychological issues?
Yes, long-term repression can contribute to various psychological issues.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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