Regression, in essence, is the opposite of development. It is a retreat—a return from an already achieved level of psychological development to one of the earlier stages. This return can manifest in the way a person thinks, in their behavior, and in the structure of their relationships.
Regression occurs in both children and adults and is often a normal reaction to certain life events, frequently associated with intense stress, trauma, loss, or illness. If, prior to the regression, a person had already developed stable relationships, attachments, and a certain strength of the ego (that is, a stable sense and awareness of the self), then after the situation that caused the regression is resolved, the regression is usually overcome relatively quickly.
In childhood, regression can arise quite easily because a child’s psyche is flexible, and many psychological and personality structures are still in the process of forming.
What can cause regression in a child?
The first factor is instability in the child’s environment: frequent separations from parents, relocations, conflicts within the family, insufficient care, or, conversely, excessive overprotection. In more severe cases, it may be caused by parental divorce, the death of a loved one, or losing that person for other reasons.
Regression is also often triggered by the birth of a sibling, especially if the child who regresses had previously been the only child in the family.
From a psychological perspective, somatic illness is often accompanied by regression, although it is not always its primary cause. In other words, the underlying cause of both the illness and the regression may be a different source related to the fact that the child’s psyche was unable to cope with internal or external pressures—with the feelings that began to overwhelm the child’s inner world. Nevertheless, whenever a child becomes physically ill, regression usually occurs, just as it often does in adults. The duration of this regression depends on whether the underlying problem that triggered it has been resolved.
A child who has actively begun exploring the outside world and has started attending kindergarten or school may begin to get sick frequently. This can be one manifestation of regression: the child may find it difficult to adapt, accept and follow rules, separate from the mother for long periods, leave the familiar home environment, and enter into competition with peers.
In such cases, the child may begin to demonstrate behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage—becoming capricious, complaining more often, seeking comfort from parents, or losing previously acquired skills. This is particularly noticeable in toilet training. The child may ask to be carried, want to sleep in the mother’s bed, ask to be fed, or display other behaviors typical of a younger child. Older children may lose self-control, become restless, struggle to concentrate, and find it difficult to manage school or household responsibilities—in general, they seem to “turn back into a little child.”
And what does a small child need? Above all, care—especially psychological care.
If parents fail to recognize the child’s psychological difficulties, these signals of distress may unconsciously be expressed through somatic illness. A physically ill child usually receives more care and attention. Even after the child has physically recovered, signs of regression may remain for quite some time. The duration of regression depends on many factors, both internal and external.
For parents, a child’s regression can also be an unpleasant and stressful experience. Often parents are unprepared for the fact that a child who had already become quite independent may suddenly lose these abilities. Such regression can provoke both anger and confusion in parents.
However, a parent who understands that regressive reactions are possible can often prevent regression from turning into somatic illness. Such a parent is more capable of accepting the temporary setback, tolerating the inconveniences it brings, and helping the child restore psychological balance.
On the other hand, overprotective parents may unintentionally reinforce this regressive behavior, which may lead to the consolidation of this response pattern. As a result, the child may fail to develop more mature ways of coping with difficulties.
When regression occurs in a child, it is important first of all to care for the child and try to understand what caused the regression.
* If the problem lies in social difficulties, it is important to help the child restore self-esteem and confidence.
* If the regression is connected with the birth of a sibling, the child needs reassurance that they remain loved and valuable to the mother.
* If it is related to the loss of a loved one, the child needs support in processing grief.
If the problem affects the entire family, it may be that both adults and the child are regressing. In such cases, help may need to be sought outside the family—from extended family members or from a professional.
Regression in adults
Regression in adults may be triggered by the same factors: stress, losses, or difficulties in relationships and social life.
For example, a man or woman who has gone through a divorce may begin drinking excessively. Alcohol abuse can be understood as regressive behavior—a return to an oral mode of gratification, when the primary source of pleasure was maternal milk.
Another example is a young man who, after his first unsuccessful sexual experience with a woman he loves, begins visiting prostitutes or, fearing that failure will repeat itself with any woman, turns to pornography for sexual satisfaction. In both cases, a painful relational experience leads to abandoning the search for satisfaction in genuine relationships. The person stops investing their libido—their emotional and sexual energy—in another person.
Another example occurs when a person who has had a near-death experience begins believing in mysticism or magical rituals. This is also a form of regression—not in relationships, but in thinking. It represents a return to magical thinking, which is characteristic of young children and ancient cultures.
Another common form of regression—particularly typical during adolescence, though it can occur throughout life—is a return to dependent relationships. The central developmental task of adolescence is separation from the family. If this task cannot be accomplished, or if the experience of separation was traumatic, the adolescent may retreat back into the psychological sphere of the parents and abandon further attempts at independence. This can lead to serious long-term consequences.
In any case, an important prognostic factor is the reversibility of regression. If, after regression occurs, the child or adult gradually returns to their previous developmental level, the regression is considered reversible and generally normal.
If regression becomes irreversible, and the person becomes stuck in it, then help is necessary—help from someone who can assist both in addressing the causes of the regression and in returning the person to a more mature mode of psychological functioning.
One such form of help is psychoanalytic psychotherapy.