Condensation (psychology)

Compression, or compression unification Are introduced by Sigmund Freud psychoanalytic terms, which stand for the mental process by which merge the intensities of individual images, memories and thoughts on the intensity of a single idea or a complex of ideas, etc.. This is an energetic reshuffle, in which psychic energy freely from one idea to another, etc. flows. This free exchange of psychic energy is characteristic of so-called primary processes that do not work with the aim of thinking identity, but to desire Fulfilling, yes to some extent also self-deception to life easier target, so to avoid discomfort and is harmful: a camouflage, reinterpretation, reconnection unpopular perception or memory.

But can also be determining failures of condensations, whose psycho-energetic dynamics, however, is not free-flowing, by certain external and internal motives are mitbeteiligt. Such can be triggered from the data subject avoidance behavior.

Examples

Primary processes with compression of psychic perception representative characteristic of dream processes. It is thus possible, for example, in a dream merge into a single person, a teacher, the elder brother and the father, which trains people of all origins aufweist.Die compaction can take place and collective, as if in mythology monsters are formed from parts of the reality, here different animals, are assembled into a sinister whole: Sphinx, Hydra, Chimaera.

Economics

According metapsychological consideration raises the question of the appropriateness of the shift of power from the individual ideas into complex ideas. Both the primary process and the secondary process pursuing the goal of unifying or identity, only by different means. The primary process rather the mean of the concentration of perceptual intensities followed ( " identity of perception " ) and thus the goal of the dissipation of arousal ( pleasure principle ), in the secondary process it is, however, to the "Think identity ", ie the cognitive balance of memories, experiences, desires ( reality principle ).