resistance
The unconscious opposition by a patient to bringing repressed material into conscious awareness during analysis.
Full Definition
Resistance refers to the unconscious psychological defenses that prevent patients from accessing or discussing painful, threatening, or anxiety-provoking material during psychoanalytic treatment. It manifests as missed appointments, silence, intellectualization, or changing the subject. Resistance is considered a normal and necessary part of the analytic process, providing valuable insight into the patient's defensive patterns and underlying conflicts. Analysts work with resistance rather than against it, using interpretation to help patients understand their defensive mechanisms.
Usage
Usage note: Not to be confused with conscious refusal or non-compliance.
In Context
- "The patient's sudden shift to discussing weather patterns indicated resistance to exploring the traumatic memory." — clinical case note
- "Interpretation of resistance must be carefully timed to avoid strengthening defensive patterns." — supervision report