Learn the history of this concept and how regression manifests in children and adults.
His ideas about defense mechanisms, including regression, were later expanded on by his daughter Anna Freud.
Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used to protect the ego from stress, fear, or trauma.
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Stages during this time include the oral, anal, and phallic stages, and everyone goes through them.
Such fixations can manifest themselves in behavior that’s indicative of a given stage.
Similarly, fixation on the anal stage may manifest itself in a preoccupation with keeping things tidy.
In these cases, regression is based on the strength of the fixation.
While regression can happen at any point in childhood, toddlers and preschoolers are especially prone to it.
Parents and caregivers canhelp their childrenthrough periods of regression by being reassuring andsupportive.
However, they should set limits by suggesting alternative ways of coping.
Studies have shown that regression generally decreases throughout adulthood.
On the other hand, regression can also be a sign of larger issues.
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Crain W.Theories Of Development: Concepts And Applications.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall; 2005.
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