Unresolved Childhood Conflicts

Definition

Unresolved childhood conflicts refer to unresolved emotional issues or traumas from early childhood that continue to impact an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in adulthood. These conflicts are often rooted in unconscious processes and can contribute to psychological problems.

Related terms

Defense Mechanisms: Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety or distress caused by unresolved childhood conflicts.

Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach that aims to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts through techniques such as free association and dream analysis.

Oedipus Complex: The Oedipus complex refers to Freud's theory that during the phallic stage of development, young children experience unconscious sexual desires for the opposite-sex parent and view the same-sex parent as a rival. Resolving this conflict is crucial for healthy social development.