24/09/2025
It refers to a pattern where a person unconsciously repeats experiences, behaviours, or relationship dynamics—often ones that were painful or traumatic—because they are trying, without realising it, to gain mastery over them or resolve them.
For example:
• Someone who felt abandoned as a child may repeatedly get into relationships with partners who are emotionally unavailable.
• A person who experienced criticism growing up might seek out situations where they feel judged or criticised again.
Even though the repetition is distressing, it feels familiar, and the unconscious drive is to “replay” the experience in hopes of a different outcome.
Would you like me to explain how repetition compulsion shows up in everyday life (relationships, work, habits), or more from a clinical/therapeutic perspective?
It can feel like being “stuck on repeat.”
⸻
🧠 Therapeutic Perspective
• Origin: Freud first described repetition compulsion as the unconscious urge to repeat unresolved trauma.
• Purpose (unconscious): To try to master the old wound, as if the next replay will finally allow healing or a different ending.
• Problem: Because it’s unconscious, people often don’t notice the pattern until it’s pointed out, and the cycle keeps causing distress.
• Healing: Therapy helps bring these patterns into awareness, so the person can consciously choose new behaviours rather than relive the old ones.
⸻
