| Abstract: | Discusses J. Weiss's (see record 1990-17877-001) proposition that a person may exercise unconscious control over repressions based on unconscious appraisals of danger and safety. This hypothesis derives from Freud's (1926) theory that repression is instituted due to anticipation that certain inner feelings or intentions would bring about a dangerous situation. Anticipation of danger evokes anxiety and leads to defense. The hypothesis implies that anticipation of danger (along with underlying pathogenic belief) is the linchpin that holds pathological formations in place. Clinical observations show that a patient's unconscious appraisals of danger and safety regulate analytic progress. These observations also change intuitions about how powerful unconscious contents may become conscious during analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
