après-coup
Pronunciation: ah-PRAY-koo
The process by which earlier experiences are retroactively given new meaning through later psychological development.
Full Definition
Après-coup, also known as deferred action or Nachträglichkeit, refers to the fundamental psychoanalytic concept that traumatic or significant experiences gain their pathogenic power only retroactively, when reactivated by later events. This temporal restructuring of memory and meaning is central to understanding how early experiences influence adult psychopathology. The concept challenges linear causality in psychological development, suggesting that meaning is constructed through complex temporal loops rather than simple cause-and-effect relationships.
Usage
Usage note: Often italicized in English texts; avoid confusing with simple delayed reaction or memory recovery.
In Context
- "The analyst noted how the patient's childhood trauma gained new significance après-coup following her recent divorce." — Case formulation
- "Understanding après-coup helped explain why seemingly minor events could trigger severe symptomatology decades later." — Clinical supervision notes