“Reenactment” or “repetition compulsion” is the unconscious tendency to recreate circumstances, relationship dynamics, or emotional patterns that mirror past traumatic experiences.
I first learned about this behavior pattern in the context of sexual assault trauma or romantic relationship dynamics, but I think it actually applies to quite a lot of things. For example, political debates.
It often happens where someone is very aggressive in their stance while I am trying to deescalate and have a real conversation. I will perhaps find something to agree with them on but they will then mock me for that. And I’m just thinking, O, you don’t want understanding or agreement, you want a fight! You want to be angry and to yell at me! No doubt this person didn’t do a good job of standing up for themselves or their beliefs in some other time and place, and now they are attempting to correct that by reenacting that fight with me, and really sticking it to their opponent this time!
Ya, that’s not much fun to be around. But once you see it….
I first learned about this behavior pattern in the context of sexual assault trauma or romantic relationship dynamics, but I think it actually applies to quite a lot of things. For example, political debates.
It often happens where someone is very aggressive in their stance while I am trying to deescalate and have a real conversation. I will perhaps find something to agree with them on but they will then mock me for that. And I’m just thinking, O, you don’t want understanding or agreement, you want a fight! You want to be angry and to yell at me! No doubt this person didn’t do a good job of standing up for themselves or their beliefs in some other time and place, and now they are attempting to correct that by reenacting that fight with me, and really sticking it to their opponent this time!
Ya, that’s not much fun to be around. But once you see it….
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