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'''Sublimation''' occurs when the (usually negative) emotional and/or psychic energy of a physical unit is manipulated and redirected away from proper attachment (i.e. towards objects that have caused the negative emotions) and towards alternative and non-threatening targets (i.e. [[scapegoats]]). Sublimation can be undertaken "voluntarily" (though often unconsciously) if the physical unit is afraid to confront the appropriate target, or sublimation may occur through the conscious manipulation of a second party who is the cause of the emotion or psychic energy being redirected. Thus for example a father who abuses a child may encourage the child to sublimate and or repress in order to divert energy towards alternative targets.  
<blockquote class="definition">'''Sublimation''' is an [[Awareness Reduction Mechanism]]. Sublimation is the redirection of awareness and energy from painful and disjunctive ideas, impulses, and actions towards less painful or disjunctive targets.  
</blockquote>


Sublimation is a one of the the three major defense mechanisms the Physical Unit uses to protect itself from pain and discomfort these being Repression, Sublimation, and Dissociation. The traditional Freudian defense mechanisms of projection, passive aggression, introjection, displacement, rationalization, and sublimation, all of which involve redirection and improper attachment of energies may all be subsumed under Sharp's primary defense mechanisms of sublimation.
==Other Awareness Reduction Mechanisms==


It should be noted that proper expression of negative emotional and/or psychic energies involves proper attachment. Anger at parents should be directed at, and expressed, at parents and not scapegoats. Similarly the anger and resentment that one experiences as the result of economic exploitation at work should be directed at those who exploit and not one's spouse or children. Proper attachment of negative energies and right expression (i.e. [[Right Action]] of these energies is the only way to successfully resolve, release, diminish, and eliminate the negative energies from the physical unit. Forms of emotional numbing (i.e. pharmaceuticals, "tapping," rock concerts, etc.) only serve to manage and/or repress energies in the short term. Negative energies however remain active and invoked. This results ion the chronic release of [[stimulators]] into the bloodstream and consequent degradation and death of the physical unit.
[[Awareness Reduction Mechanisms]] > {{#ask:[[Is an::Awareness Reduction Mechanism]]}}


Sublimation includes
==Related Terms==


==See Also==
[[Awareness Reduction Mechanisms]] > {{#ask:[[Is a related term::Awareness Reduction Mechanisms ]]}}


[[Stimulators]]
==Notes==


[[Defense Mechanisms]]
An adolescent angry at their abusive father may, because the father will respond to their anger with abuse,  redirect their anger to weaker children at school, their spouse at home, or their opponent in a boxing ring.


[[Repression]]
Proper expression of negative emotional and/or psychic energies involves proper attachment. Anger at parents should be directed at, and expressed, at parents and not scapegoats. Similarly, the anger and resentment that one experiences as the result of economic exploitation at work should be directed at those who exploit and not one's spouse or children.


[[Right Action]]
Sublimation is a second-order defence mechanism. Sublimation involves the transformation of unwanted ideas, emotions, and memories onto an alternative target. For example, an individual angry over sexual assault and unable to properly express/resolve that anger might become a professional boxer in order to gain release. Or, an individual shamed about their sexual urges repress these urges and devotes their attention to artistic pursuits. Note that disjuncture can also be handled with sublimation. You may have a desire to cheat on your partner, but instead, you focus your attention on other pursuits, like your car, or fashion.


{{template:cite}}
Sublimation may not seem like a serious ARM to begin with. What is wrong with sublimating emotions into a successful boxing career so you do not have to deal with them? For one, sublimation involves repression of root causes. If you get into boxing in order to deal with the anger you have for your parents, you are not dealing with the root causes. In this case, the anger won’t go away. It will persist and potentially do neurological and psychological damage. Similarly, avoiding cheating on your partner by sublimating your urges does not deal with the root issues, which may be problems in your partnership. Perhaps there are communication issues, or whatever.
 
If you sublimate your emotions and do something else, you will not be dealing with the problems. If you do not deal with the problems, they will eventually get worse. It is the same with repressed emotions from childhood or adolescent trauma. You can pretend the emotions are not there, but they do not go away. Chronic sublimation, like all forms of awareness reduction, will eventually cause other problems, like ill health, broken relationships, neurosis, and even psychosis.
 
==Treatment==
 
Raising client awareness of the sublimated feelings, impulses while at the same time helping the client develop skills necessary to deal. An adult child who hates their father but has sublimated that anger on their own spouse and children learns to recognize the source, develops skills to be able to properly express, and gets guidance on how to apologize and atone to their spouse and children.
 
{{endstuff}}
[[category:terms]]
[[Is an::Awareness Reduction Mechanism| ]]
[[Is a::Second Order Defense Mechanism| ][]

Latest revision as of 15:59, 22 December 2022

Sublimation is an Awareness Reduction Mechanism. Sublimation is the redirection of awareness and energy from painful and disjunctive ideas, impulses, and actions towards less painful or disjunctive targets.

Other Awareness Reduction Mechanisms

Awareness Reduction Mechanisms > Avoidance, Denial, Displacement, Dissociation, Distortion, Distraction, Diversion, Gaslighting, Intellectualization, Internalization, Projection, Rationalization, Reaction Formation, Regression, Repression, Sublimation

Related Terms

Awareness Reduction Mechanisms > Ego Threat, Unwanted Self

Notes

An adolescent angry at their abusive father may, because the father will respond to their anger with abuse, redirect their anger to weaker children at school, their spouse at home, or their opponent in a boxing ring.

Proper expression of negative emotional and/or psychic energies involves proper attachment. Anger at parents should be directed at, and expressed, at parents and not scapegoats. Similarly, the anger and resentment that one experiences as the result of economic exploitation at work should be directed at those who exploit and not one's spouse or children.

Sublimation is a second-order defence mechanism. Sublimation involves the transformation of unwanted ideas, emotions, and memories onto an alternative target. For example, an individual angry over sexual assault and unable to properly express/resolve that anger might become a professional boxer in order to gain release. Or, an individual shamed about their sexual urges repress these urges and devotes their attention to artistic pursuits. Note that disjuncture can also be handled with sublimation. You may have a desire to cheat on your partner, but instead, you focus your attention on other pursuits, like your car, or fashion.

Sublimation may not seem like a serious ARM to begin with. What is wrong with sublimating emotions into a successful boxing career so you do not have to deal with them? For one, sublimation involves repression of root causes. If you get into boxing in order to deal with the anger you have for your parents, you are not dealing with the root causes. In this case, the anger won’t go away. It will persist and potentially do neurological and psychological damage. Similarly, avoiding cheating on your partner by sublimating your urges does not deal with the root issues, which may be problems in your partnership. Perhaps there are communication issues, or whatever.

If you sublimate your emotions and do something else, you will not be dealing with the problems. If you do not deal with the problems, they will eventually get worse. It is the same with repressed emotions from childhood or adolescent trauma. You can pretend the emotions are not there, but they do not go away. Chronic sublimation, like all forms of awareness reduction, will eventually cause other problems, like ill health, broken relationships, neurosis, and even psychosis.

Treatment

Raising client awareness of the sublimated feelings, impulses while at the same time helping the client develop skills necessary to deal. An adult child who hates their father but has sublimated that anger on their own spouse and children learns to recognize the source, develops skills to be able to properly express, and gets guidance on how to apologize and atone to their spouse and children.

Footnotes


[[Is a::Second Order Defense Mechanism| ][]

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