Final answer:
Yes, repression is considered a common defense mechanism in Freudian theory. It involves unconsciously blocking overwhelming memories to reduce anxiety, but its concept is still debated among psychologists.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is Repression Widely Used?
Repression is indeed a common defense mechanism, according to Freudian theory. This psychological strategy involves blocking anxiety-causing memories from consciousness. An analogy for repression could be when a car's strange noise is ignored by turning up the radio, leading to the noise being forgotten. In the human psyche, if a memory is too overwhelming, it might be repressed and thus removed from conscious awareness. Nevertheless, these repressed memories might lead to symptoms in other areas of life.
Freud's theories suggest that the unconscious mind stores repressed memories that can resurface through symptoms, verbal slips, and dreams. The existence of such mechanisms is supported by instances where individuals have recovered memories of childhood trauma through therapeutic techniques. However, the concept of repressed memory is still a matter of debate, with some researchers like Loftus challenging the validity of recovered memories years after the event.
Ego defense mechanisms are various unconscious strategies, such as repression, reaction formation, regression, projection, rationalization, displacement, and sublimation, used to handle anxiety and protect the psyche. While Freud believed that everyone uses these mechanisms, overuse can be problematic, indicating unresolved internal conflicts that could cause long-term issues like unhappiness and alienation.