Repressed Anger, Depression & Cancer

Repression is a defense mechanism in which the person is unable to remember or to be cognitively aware of disturbing wishes, feelings, thoughts, or experiences (American Psychological Association, 1987, p.394). According to George E. Vaillant’s (1992) classification, it is one of the neurotic defense mechanisms, because they “do not individually demonstrate strong relationships to symptoms…

Acting-out Your Anger is Self-Destructive

Acting-out is a defense mechanism in which the person acts without reflection or apparent regard for its negative consequences (DSM III, 1987 p.394). George E. Vaillant (1992) explains that it “involves the expression of feelings, wishes, or impulses in uncontrolled behaviour with apparent disregard for personal or social consequences” (p.253). Therefore it is the mode…

Shame cluster & self-Esteem

Some emotions are closer to each other at their experiential level. They share some commonalities, perhaps in expressions, in physiological activities, in the nature of antecedents or in the appraisal process. Therefore, they naturally form a ‘family of feelings’ (Ekman, 1992, p. 172) or a ‘cluster of emotions’. Shame, embarrassment, shyness and doubt form such…