In the context of defense mechanisms, what is the term for when an individual retreats to an earlier developmental stage?

Regression refers to a psychological defense mechanism in which an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development when faced with stress or anxiety. This can manifest in various ways, such as a teenager throwing a tantrum when faced with stress or an adult exhibiting childlike behaviors in response to overwhelming situations.

This mechanism is particularly notable in children, who may regress to thumb-sucking, bedwetting, or seeking comfort objects when they experience upheaval, such as parental divorce or a new sibling. By retreating to a previous developmental phase, individuals may find temporary relief from present pressures or emotional distress, allowing them to cope with feelings that they find difficult to manage in their current state of maturity.

In contrast, the other psychological defense mechanisms mentioned serve different roles. Projection involves attributing one’s unacceptable feelings or thoughts to others. Repression is the unconscious blocking of distressing thoughts and feelings from awareness. Displacement involves redirecting emotions from the original source of stress to a safer target. Each of these mechanisms serves to protect an individual from emotional discomfort but operates in distinct ways that do not involve the regression to an earlier stage of development as regression does.