Regression coping mechanism

Regression | Psychology Today

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Regression is a defense mechanism in which people seem to return to an earlier developmental stage. This tends to occur around periods of stress—for example, an overwhelmed child may revert to bedwetting or thumb-sucking. Regression may arise from a desire to reduce anxiety and feel psychologically safe.

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies that people use to protect themselves from anxious thoughts or feelings. The concept originates from the work of Sigmund Freud and was developed in large part by his daughter Anna. Although many of Freud’s ideas have been disproven over time, the notion of defense mechanisms has endured. Psychologists today still believe that internal conflict can manifest in specific patterns and dynamics like regression.

Regression in Psychoanalysis and Therapy
Regression in Everyday Life

Regression in Psychoanalysis and Therapy

Regression is behavioral "backtracking" or reversion to earlier coping mechanisms that can occur as people progress through different stages of development. Stressful situations may lead to internal tension, sending people back to a time of familiarity and security. For example, a person with a serious physical illness might cry in the fetal position even though that's not how they typically respond or behave. Understanding triggers can be helpful to observe in a therapeutic context; they can signal challenges that need to be addressed.

How did Freud conceptualize regression?

Freud's theory of psychosexual development holds that people develop through stages such as the oral, anal, and phallic stage, so that by the time they're five or six, the basic structures of personality are set. However, people can sometimes revert back to a previous stage of development instead of addressing their challenges in an adaptive way, particularly under stress. In Freudian parlance, this could lead to “neurosis."

How is regression addressed in therapy?

Taking time to spot regressive behavior and understand what triggered it can be helpful in therapy. Triggers of regression, which a therapist might identify, represent underlying sources of stress. Talking about that stress can help people process it, develop coping skills, and change their behavior moving forward.

What can childhood regression signal in therapy?

Regressive behavior doesn’t always signal that something is wrong; natural fluctuations can take place during development. In some cases, however, regression can be a symptom of childhood abuse or trauma, along with symptoms such as irritability, difficulty concentrating, increased vigilance, trouble sleeping, and regular stomachs and headaches, among others. Therapy can help children process the experiences they’ve endured to restore daily functioning, emotional well-being, and trusting relationships.

Regression in Everyday Life

Operating below one’s typical level of functioning doesn’t just occur in the therapist’s office. Regression can occur in daily life as well, from moments of immaturity in romantic relationships to more substantial developmental challenges in childhood.

What’s an example of regression?

Regression often emerges under stress. For example, a driver stuck in traffic may get angry and throw a tantrum, even though he doesn’t usually behave that way. Or a child may revert to sucking their thumb or wetting the bed after a trauma. As a defense mechanism, regression represents a return to a previous stage that felt more secure.

How does regression affect relationships?

When emotionally overwhelmed, people may revert to childhood strategies to have their needs met. In these moments, that “inner child” can wreak havoc on relationships. People might throw tantrums when they don’t get their way instead of communicating calmly or letting it go, manipulate their partner to get what they want instead of asking directly or doing without, rebel instead of discussing difficulties, and avoid conflict instead of voicing their own needs.

Has the pandemic led children to regress?

The seismic shift of the pandemic introduced many new challenges. Just like adults, kids have sometimes had trouble adjusting a new normal. This can result in regression to less mature levels of functioning. Children may become frustrated more easily, become more clingy, have more bathroom accidents, experience sleep disruptions, and change their eating patterns. For example, a child who previously transitioned to school easily may begin to feel anxious when needing to separate from a parent.

How can parents respond to a child who regresses?

If a child is regressing, parents should avoid shaming the child for her behavior or bribing, cajoling, or punishing her to act in age-appropriate ways. Instead, acknowledge that she’s having a hard time and validate her emotions. Listen to her experience, and then brainstorm ideas to address underlying sources of stress. Adapt routines as needed, for example around bedtime or potty-training, and then stick to the boundaries you establish.

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Causes, Signs, & Overcoming It

Age regression can be an involuntary or voluntary reaction to stress and trauma. Here’s what to know about it.

Think back to when you were a child: what were some of the things you used to do to self-soothe when you were scared or anxious?

Did you suck your thumb or hide under the bed? Maybe you covered your ears and closed your eyes? Or started to whine until someone paid attention to you in the way you wanted?

As a child, these behaviors are expected. However, we tend to grow out of them as we age, enter adulthood, and learn more effective and age-appropriate ways to relieve stress.

But sometimes, people revert to a younger state of mind and re-adopt some of these juvenile behaviors. This is called age regression.

“Age regression is a term that is used to describe an individual’s reversion of their mental state to a younger one,” explains Bryan Bruno, psychiatrist and medical director of Mid City TMS in New York City. “Age regression may only set the individual’s mind back a few years, but in some cases, it may take the individual’s mind back to childhood or even infancy.”

This reversion can happen at any age — though, in children, it is relatively common and usually temporary.

“Generally, [age regression] is a defense mechanism,” explains psychologist Cynthia Halow. “People regress as a form of escape: they want to get away from the realities of their current life [and] they tend to revert to a point in their life when they felt safe, comfortable, and secure.”

It can also be an intentional coping mechanism, she adds.

Generally, there are two broad types of age regression: involuntary and voluntary.

Involuntary age regression

Involuntary age regression is when you are unconsciously reverting to a younger state of mind; you did not choose to engage in this behavior.

Voluntary

Some people intentionally regress to a younger state of mind as a way to block out anxiety, difficult feelings, or personal problems as a self-help or self-soothing strategy.

That said, if you do this regularly, you might want to speak to a therapist to make sure it’s not a sign of a larger mental health issue and to learn to do it safely.

Age regression can also be used as a therapeutic technique in conjunction with hypnotherapy.

“[This] therapy allows patients to relive earlier memories and experiences,” explains Bruno. “It is often done to help patients resolve issues in their past and confront memories that may be harming their present mental health.”

However, some therapists believe that this practice could lead to the creation of false memories — so as a therapy technique, it’s somewhat controversial.

Symptoms of involuntary age regression can include:

crying
being mute
using baby talk
rocking
pacing
whining
curling up in the fetal position
hugging a comfort object like a stuffed animal or blanket
having a temper tantrum

Symptoms of voluntary age regression could include:

sucking on your thumb or a pacifier
playing with kid’s toys
using children’s utensils or sippy cups
creating a space filled with childlike objects
wearing kid’s clothes

Both involuntary and voluntary age regression can be triggered by stress, fear, insecurity, or trauma.

Unconscious age regression can also be a symptom of certain illnesses, neurological conditions, or mental health conditions, including:

post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
schizophrenia
dementia
borderline personality disorder
dissociative identity disorder
delirium
mood disorders
major depressive disorder
personality disorders

Treatment for involuntary age regression often depends on how old you are and what is causing the age regression.

For example, explains Bruno, “In children, the behavior is typical, and most often a temporary reaction to stress or trauma.” It generally goes away on its own, especially if you provide them with care, love, and attention.

But for adults, he says, “the most effective method in treating age regression is to identify its root cause.”

In other words, treatment often involves determining if it is a symptom of a larger mental health condition, then treating that condition.

One of the most effective ways to treat age regression is to speak with a therapist. Regardless of the root of your emotional regression, a therapist will work with you to understand your defense mechanisms and emotional triggers, and help you find healthier ways to cope.

Age regression is a reaction to stress, anxiety, or trauma. It can be voluntary, a way to self-soothe when you’re feeling overwhelmed, or involuntary, a potential symptom of a larger mental health issue.

If you’re experiencing age regression, the first step to consider is reaching out to a therapist — they can help you figure out why it’s happening and the best next steps to take.

Regression as an indispensable mechanism of the psyche

education awarenesspsychological cinema self-development 6 min read Apr. 20, 2020

Given the persistence, high frequency, and importance of regression in the daily functioning of the psyche, people know very little about this phenomenon. Although this knowledge would bring a greater understanding of what is happening to a person, especially with a systematic manifestation, and, therefore, would increase self-regulation and reduce anxiety.

In this regard, and in view of the fact that I did not find materials where the phenomenon of regression would be described thoroughly and succinctly, I consider it necessary to write such an article for future reference.

Regression ≠ regression

So, there are many views on human development, individual maturation and personality formation (according to Freud, according to Erickson, according to Elkonin). There is one thing in common between them: ascent and integration. That is, the movement of the psyche from simple to more complex and from fragmented to integral due to the assimilation and integration of the experience gained in the process of education, coupled with the development of physiology. All this can be summarized in the word progress .

No progress, on closer examination, can be uniform, permanent and absolutely unidirectional. Progress is only a designation of one and, normally, the general course of human development. But even in the norm there are reverse processes and fluctuations.

In the context of physiology, reverse processes are called regression . In relation to psychophysiology, for example, there is the concept of involutional psychosis. They denote changes in the tissues and areas of the brain that are irreversible and that affect the psyche. Regression is a non-psychological concept and is not used by psychologists.

But in the context of intrapsychic functioning, everything that concerns the processes of reverse development is called regression . Regression is a temporary phenomenon and is not irreversible. Rather, it can be called a state of mind at a certain point in time.

What is regression?

Consider several definitions of the concept of regression.

Regression (lat. Regressus - backward movement) is a protective mechanism, which is a form of psychological adaptation in a situation of conflict or anxiety, when a person unconsciously resorts to earlier, less mature and less adequate patterns of behavior that seem to guarantee protection and safety (Wiki ).

Regression is a form of psychological defense. It is characterized by the fact that during its implementation there is a return to more primitive forms of behavior and thinking that were characteristic of an earlier stage of ontogenetic development (Glossary of psychological terms. Edited by N. Gubin).

Regression - the return of the libido to an earlier mode of adaptation, often accompanied by infantile fantasies and desires. (V. Zelensky. Dictionary of analytical psychology).

Regression - a defense mechanism of the Ego, in which a person returns to a more primitive way of interacting with the world (R. Comer. General psychology: a glossary).

If we talk about the directions of psychotherapy, then regression is understood in the context of considering the mental apparatus.

In psychoanalysis: Regression is a simple defense mechanism related in development to the sub-phase of reunion, when, in frustration, the individual turns to earlier periods of life, when he experienced greater pleasure, and to earlier types of satisfaction, which were fuller. Its severity depends on the degree of hesitation when accepting a new way of satisfaction and the strength of fixation on the old ways.

In Gestalt therapy: Regression is a return to an earlier level of development or to a more simplified, more childish way of expressing oneself. Regression is a way to reduce anxiety by abandoning realistic thinking in favor of actions that have reduced anxiety in the past.

In behaviorism: Regression - a return to an earlier, primitive way of responding, stable regressions are manifested in the fact that a person justifies his actions from the position of a child's thinking, does not recognize logic, defends his opinion, despite the correctness of the interlocutor's arguments. A person does not develop mentally, and sometimes childhood habits return (nail biting, etc.).

Despite the difference in formulations and approaches to understanding the psyche, it is not difficult to distinguish what is common: the attribution of the protective function and the adaptive-negative coloring provoked by the conditions of functioning.

Harm and benefits of regression

The negative value is justified as follows.

Regression certainly has a protective function. But, like many protections, it is not always relevant. And a person abuses regression more often than other methods, in my opinion, already preventing normal adaptation to conditions.
You know, it's like addiction, for example, to narcotic substances. For the first time, a person is frustrated and, in order to protect himself from negative experiences, resorts to use and receives a complex of positive sensations - this is protection.
The second and subsequent times a person does not have to experience the same level of frustration. He remembers the positive sensations and they themselves stimulate the use. It no longer has an actual protective function. In general, use is still protection, but specifically in this case, use is no longer there. In fact, this is where the concept comes from.0012 ABUSE when a person engages in defensive behavior when conditions do not require it.

Drug use is a regression. A return to the euphoric states of the psyche that a person once experienced in life. For example, in the happiest periods of life. Or a dream experience. Or a very infantile and idealized experience.

Any form of addiction, in principle, is also a regression. Addictive to series, food, video games, animals, sports, etc. - all this is the desire to reproduce the positive experience received earlier.

Therefore, not all regression is negative, because in principle, in any form of obtaining pleasure by a person there is a component of regression. What matters here is the individual balance between using to fulfill life and abusing to avoid life.

Signs and manifestations of regression

Other defense mechanisms - for example, projection, denial or rationalization - work due to the activity of the Self. I endow the Other with my properties, I deny, I use rational explanations for justification.

The peculiarity of regression, as a defense, is that it is conditioned by the weakness of the Self. When the Self is weak, it is easiest for a person to regress. In other words, to roll back to the early stages of functioning and interaction with the world, that is, problems.

In the language of memes, this is expressed in such popular examples as "I'm a girl (boy), I don't want to decide anything, I want to _____" and "I would do ________, but I have paws", as well as the meme "It's okay" .

That is why infantilism is so tightly fused with the concept of regression. The more a person regresses, the more infantile he is. The fact is that people usually tend to protect a small child to a greater extent than an adult.

And even a small child learns this understanding quite early, speculating on it in childhood. The more parents indulged in speculation, patronized, the less they developed autonomy, the stronger regressive intentions will be in adulthood.

The memory of a sense of security, which was achieved through the manifestation of childish compassionate behavior, is preserved and both consciously and unconsciously, the person resorts again to this method of coping with difficulties. It is precisely because girls in the culture of many peoples are considered to be weaker and, accordingly, more protected, as a result of which they are more infantile and more regressive.

But in general, regardless of gender, a person during regression shows childish, non-adaptive character traits and behavior patterns. Sometimes it happens out of a genuine sense of powerlessness, sometimes out of habit and manipulation. There can be no general verdict. But the unconditional harm of regression is that with constant satisfaction, that is, achieving the desired result through it, it becomes stronger and stronger and the person becomes less autonomous, but more dependent on who helped and what helped to cope with the problem.

Worst of all is the unconscious regression, of course. When a person is sincerely convinced of their inability to solve a problem (due to an unwillingness to act or a desire to be cared for through regression). And even worse, when to justify the inability, he disables himself. Frequent illnesses, weakness, malaise, migraine, bad mood, hypertrophy of feelings about events in life, etc. A person sincerely believes in all this, uses it as arguments, first of all, for himself, and, if possible, for others, so that they sympathize and, if possible, help.

Central here is feeling weak and insecure and conveying the hidden message: "I am unable to take care of myself, protect me." As a consequence, in some people who abuse regression, it can indeed lead to chronic illness and chronic failure, develop into hypochondria and be accompanied by somatization. When regression becomes the cornerstone of a personality, a life strategy for overcoming problems, such a personality is called infantile.

There is always regression

But, as I wrote above, regression is a broad and deep concept. And it is associated with any act of obtaining pleasure in principle.

After all, every day when we fall asleep we regress. Our consciousness turns off and in dreams we experience a fantasy experience.

In general, we often regress in memory to pleasant moments in life. A mild form of escapism. Nostalgia is a manifestation of regression. This way we calm down and avoid stress. The more stress, the stronger it provokes defenses, including regression.

By the way, pleasant moments may not be personal, but cinematic. That is why we love to watch our favorite movies. Identification with the main character allows us to re-experience especially dear feelings. If stress in life intensifies, then a person catches himself thinking to push everything aside, turn on his favorite video or TV series, add delicious food to it (regression to the oral stage) and plunge into another world at least for a while.
Recurring dreams of happy moments in life are analogous to favorite films as an experience that gave pleasant feelings.

Illustration

A shot from the movie "Birds of Prey" is used as an illustration, where the main character Harley Quinn and Cassandra Kane watch cartoons on TV over plates of cereal with milk, as in childhood. On the same couch, even earlier, Harley alone experienced a breakup with the Joker, seizing sadness with not already a classic bucket of ice cream, but with cheese sauce.

In general, the image of Harley is filled with infantilism and regression. Very childish, feigned, expressive behavior with antics, thin voice and awkward movements. Bright neo-punk style in clothes, eclectic color palette, a huge amount of colorful details.

According to her biography, Harley's regression was not typical at all, and this is logical - she grew up in a very dysfunctional family with an abusive alcoholic mother, who sent her to be raised in a monastery. Weakness was not welcomed and there was no one to delegate problem solving, so Harley developed a strong character, thanks to which she always relied on herself. Infantilism was denied. She completed her PhD and became a psychiatrist. When meeting the Joker, she was not displaying childish behavior. But after communicating with him, maybe immediately after bathing in acid, a radical change occurs and what has never been used and suppressed comes to the fore. But this is only a superficial model of behavior. Harley is still strong, smart and agile, only fooling around and misleading enemies with her childish and supposedly defenseless behavior. As a psychiatrist, she knows how to let her guard down. It follows from this that her psychotype has really changed (she sincerely regresses and enjoys it), on the other hand, she consciously uses regression as a manipulation of others.

What is regression in psychology?

Regression is a psychological defense mechanism by which a person copes with stressful or anxiety-producing relationships or situations by regressing to an earlier stage of development. Regression can occur at any stage of development in both adults and children when someone behaves in an immature or age-inappropriate way.

For example, an older adult admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with a medical condition can cope by curling up and holding a soft animal. On the other hand, a young child whose parents have just brought home a sibling may deal with the uncertainty that they are no longer an only child by reverting to behavior they have already outgrown, such as wetting the bed or sucking their thumb.

Learn about the history of this concept and how regression manifests itself in children and adults. We will also discuss how you can overcome regression if you tend to use this defense mechanism in your life.

20 common defense mechanisms and how they work

History of regression

Regression and other defense mechanisms were proposed by Sigmund Freud in the 19th century as part of his psychoanalytic theory. His ideas about defense mechanisms, including regression, were later expanded upon by his daughter Anna Freud.

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used to protect the ego from stress, fear or injury. According to Anna Freud, regression is an immature defense mechanism, since the individual who regresses cannot deal with the situation in a more constructive, age-appropriate way.

Fixation and regression

In Freud's concept, the defense mechanism of regression is closely linked to his stages of psychosexual development. Freud's theory identifies several stages that children go through from infancy to adolescence, but special attention is paid to development from birth to six years of age.

These stages are the oral, anal and phallic stages, and every person goes through them. As a result, a person can become preoccupied with a certain stage, no matter how much he has grown beyond it, which Freud called "fixation".

Such fixations may manifest themselves in behavior characteristic of the stage. For example, if a person is fixed in the oral stage, he may suck on a pen while working, or smoke, eat, or drink in excess. Similarly, fixation at the anal stage can manifest itself in a preoccupation with keeping clean.

Other people, however, may not show any signs of fixation until something happens in their life that causes stress or trauma. It is only at this point that the regression defense mechanism will be used to protect their egos, resulting in a return to an earlier stage.

For example, a person experiencing a severe breakup, who is not usually fixated on the oral stage, may suddenly find that food brings him solace. In such cases, the regression depends on the strength of the fixation. If the fixation at an earlier stage is relatively weak, then a lot of stress will be required for regression; on the other hand, if the fixation is strong, then even a slight stress can lead to regression.

Regression in children

Young children develop new skills and abilities quickly, but regression is also a normal part of their development. In particular, it is normal and even helpful when a child regresses a little after learning something new or adapting to a new situation, for example, after the first visit to kindergarten or preschool.

Regression is often the result of a child being overwhelmed by a new developmental milestone they have reached and that it takes them out of their previously established comfort zone.

For example, a child who has recently learned to feed himself may suddenly seem unable to do so and revert to relying on caregivers. Or on the first day when the child is picked up from kindergarten, he may cry and clutch at the leg of the parent, although he has not shown such behavior for several months.

Although regression can occur at any point in childhood, toddlers and preschoolers are especially prone to it.

Parents and caregivers can help their children get through periods of regression by comforting and supporting them. Regression is a way for children to express their feelings about their development, so caregivers should not ignore their behavior. For example, if a child throws a temper tantrum every time they get a ride to school, the caregiver might remind them of the fun they had last time and reassure them that they will come to pick them up as soon as school is over.

While regression in childhood is normal and usually short-lived, if it lasts longer than a few weeks it can be cause for concern. If a single episode of regression continues for more than two to three weeks, it is worth checking with the child's doctor to make sure there is nothing else going on that is holding it back.

Adult regression

Like children, adults sometimes regress, often as a temporary reaction to a traumatic or anxiety-producing situation. For example, a person stuck in a traffic jam may experience road rage that would never manifest in everyday life but helps them cope with the stress of driving.

Similarly, a college freshman who is about to take his first exam might spend the entire night video chatting with his best friend, as he did in high school, to calm his nerves. In these cases, the person regresses to a stage in his development when he felt safer and more secure, or when a person who cares for him could relieve him of self-doubt.

Studies have shown that regression usually decreases in adulthood. A longitudinal study among European Americans found that between adolescence and age 65, the use of the regression defense mechanism decreased. However, regression increased after age 65, which the researchers attributed to the difficulty of maintaining adaptive coping strategies into old age.

Similarly, in a cross-sectional study comparing young, predominantly white adults with a mean age of about 20 years and older, predominantly white adults with a mean age of about 71, younger adults were found to use regression more frequently than older adults. The researchers speculated that this difference may be the result of immature regressive behavior being more acceptable to young adults while being maladaptive and pathological to older adults.

How to overcome regression

Although regression is often a temporary reaction to stress that will not lead to more serious problems, in many cases the person may not realize that their behavior is regressive, although to an outside observer the immaturity of their actions may be quite obvious.

Often telling an adult that their behavior is uncharacteristic for a child or not appropriate for their age will help them become aware of what they are doing and determine how to respond more productively to what is hurting them.

On the other hand, regression can be a sign of more serious problems. Regression addiction can be a sign of poor coping skills that may require the help of a counselor or therapist. If you notice that you find it difficult to constructively deal with the stress of everyday life and tend to act helpless or immature in the face of challenges, this may be a sign that you need to work with a professional to improve your coping skills.

Regression can also be a sign of serious physical or psychological problems such as catatonia, delirium, psychotic disorders, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorders, dementia, or substance use disorders.

If there is concern that a person's regression is a sign of more serious problems, a doctor or mental health professional should be consulted. They diagnose the problem and, together with the patient or their loved ones, develop a plan to solve it. Regression is a symptom of these problems, so the goal will be to treat the underlying disorder, which will naturally lead to a reduction or even complete elimination of the regression.

6 Sources We use only high quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and ensure that our content is accurate, reliable, and authentic.

Lokko HN, Stern TA. Regression: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord . 2015-17(3). doi:10.4088/pcc.14f01761
Freud, A. The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense . New York, NY: Routledge 1936/2018.
Crain W. Theories Of Development: Concepts And Applications . 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall 2005.
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