repression / displacement
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repression
In psychology, an unconscious defense mechanism in which unpleasant or threatening thoughts, feelings, or memories are excluded from consciousness.
Seine ständige Vergesslichkeit könnte ein Zeichen von Verdrängung sein.
His constant forgetfulness could be a sign of repression.
'Verdrängung' (repression/displacement) comes from the verb 'verdrängen' (to repress, to displace). It consists of the prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'drängen' (to push, to press). Here, the prefix 'ver-' intensifies the idea of pushing away or removing something from a place.
Kleine Geschäfte kämpfen gegen die Verdrängung durch große Supermarktketten.
Small shops are fighting against displacement by large supermarket chains.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Verdrängung' (repression/displacement) from the field of use. In psychology, it is about feelings; in social or economic contexts, it is about people or companies; and in physics, it is about liquids or ships.
Die Psychologin sprach über die Verdrängung von Traumata.
The psychologist spoke about the repression of trauma.
As a psychological term, 'Verdrängung' (repression) describes an unconscious process. It often involves the repression of unpleasant memories, feelings, or desires.
Seine Angststörung ist möglicherweise eine Folge von Verdrängung in der Kindheit.
His anxiety disorder may be a consequence of repression in childhood.
In a social context, the word often describes negative developments. Common phrases are 'die Verdrängung von Mietern' (the displacement of tenants) or 'die Verdrängung aus dem Stadtzentrum' (displacement from the city center).
Bürgerinitiativen kämpfen gegen die Verdrängung von Anwohnern aus ihren Vierteln.
Citizens' initiatives are fighting against the displacement of residents from their neighborhoods.
In the physical sense, 'Verdrängung' (displacement) is a technical term that describes the volume or weight of liquid that a body occupies. It is used especially often with ships.
Das U-Boot hat unter Wasser eine Verdrängung von 2.000 Tonnen.
The submarine has a displacement of 2,000 tons underwater.
defense
'die Abwehr' and 'die Verdrängung' can both have to do with protection from unpleasant feelings or memories in psychology. 'Abwehr' is the more general term for such unconscious protective reactions. 'Verdrängung' is a specific form of this: something distressing is pushed out of conscious thought. Learners may confuse the words because both sound psychological and describe protection. In practice: 'Abwehr' is the umbrella term, while 'Verdrängung' is a specific type of defense.
Die Verdrängung half ihr eine Zeit lang, aber später kamen die Erinnerungen zurück.
The repression helped her for a while, but later the memories came back.
Aus Angst vor der Erinnerung zeigte Paul starke Abwehr und wollte nicht darüber sprechen.
Out of fear of the memory, Paul showed strong defensiveness and did not want to talk about it.