denial vs dissociation vs repression

[artsydoc]

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Can someone please clear up the difference between those three? Thank you!

 

[Fenster]

A doctor tells the patient he has lung cancer. If, a few hours later, he:

1. Remembers having heard the news about his health from the doctor but doesn't believe he has cancer, that's denial.
2. Remembers having heard the news from the doctor, but believes he watched the doctor giving the news to someone else about his/her health, that's dissociation.
3. Doesn't remember hearing any news (or even meeting the doctor), that's repression.

That's the simple way to put it. You could look up the definitions of the terms in any standard textbook for a better understanding. Dissociation, particularly, is a very broad term.

 

[artsydoc]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for! Have read a lot of explanations but was looking for a concise way to understand the fundamental qualities of the three-shelf exam tomorrow.

 

[billypilgrim37]

For 2., I would also say the patient could understand that it was towards them, but feel like it was more like watching the doctor tell it to someone else. Otherwise, yes, these are great definitions.