Intermediate
Technical
IVT
acting out
Expressing unconscious conflicts through behavior rather than words or conscious awareness.
Full Definition
A defense mechanism where individuals express unconscious impulses, conflicts, or memories through actions rather than remembering or verbalizing them. In psychoanalytic treatment, acting out often represents resistance to the analytic process, as patients avoid painful material by enacting it rather than exploring it verbally. Acting out can occur within the therapeutic relationship or in the patient's external life, and requires careful interpretation to understand the underlying unconscious content.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenated when used as a noun or adjective, but written as two words when used as a verb phrase.
In Context
- "The patient's acting out through missed appointments reflected resistance to exploring abandonment fears." — Case notes
- "Acting out decreased significantly once the underlying transference was interpreted." — Treatment summary
Also known as
enactment
Contrasted with
working through
insight
Don't confuse with
acting up
regression