A conceptualization of the repetition compulsion.
The concept of the repetition compulsion remains an enigma. Its etiology is not fully understood and the purpose it serves continues to be a mystery. Although it is often theorized that the compulsion to repeat may function to facilitate mastery of a past trauma, mastery is rarely achieved. In this article the concept of the repetition compulsion is reviewed and the unanswered questions that continue to exist about this phenomenon are summarized. A way to conceptualize the compulsion to repeat is then offered. The compulsion to repeat as it specifically relates to the attempt to master a previous trauma is reviewed, followed by a examination of the relationship between the compulsion to repeat and reenactments. Finally, how the compulsion to repeat can be viewed as a posttraumatic stress response and the implications of understanding it in this fashion is then examined.
Levy
M S
MS
CAB Health & Recovery Services, Inc., Danvers, MA 01923, USA. michael_levy@cabhealth.com
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D012008:Recurrence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology