Question

Leonard becomes silent when his therapist asks him about his relationship with his mother. As the therapist continues to explore this area of Leonard's life, Leonard either skips sessions or arrives late. In psychoanalytic terms, Leonard is exhibiting:

Answer 1

The answer is psychological resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Resistance occurs when a patient is unwilling to cooperate, in relation to his changing process. Studies have shown that the main reason for resistance is shame, and usually takes place when discussing anxiety provoking experiences.

Resistance hinders progress in personal development. Many experts state that resistance should be analysed as a factor to understand the patient better; drawing too much attention to resistance might be counterproductive.