"Displacement activity", (according to psychologists)

[grahamg]

There are many kinds of "displacement activity" shown in the animal kingdom, and especially in us humans I believe, (or psychologists say, and I've no reason to doubt it).

In its simplest form this is what we probably all remember or recognise as a caricature from the tv of the man coming home from a difficult day in the office and taking it out on his wife by arguing or overreacting to something, or by "kicking the dog"!

My interest has been prompted by some destructive actions by the teenage son of a friend against his father's property, (whose parents split a year ago, but his dad isn't letting the son know he's now seeing someone else, even though he'll be hearing rumours).

Here are a few links you may find useful, if you want to learn more as I do:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-displacement-in-psychology-4587375

This one allows you to search for quotes, (but refers to animals):
https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/stress-fear-or-displacement-behavior

"Displacement behaviors (or “activities,” as first coined) are believed to occur when an animal is in conflict about two incompatible desires. For example, an animal wants to defend his mating territory, but is afraid of being injured. Animals are either ambivalent (“approach versus avoid”) or unsure of what to do next."

This website came up during my search too, relating to child development:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/

Quote:
"Learning how to cope with adversity is an important part of healthy child development. When we are threatened, our bodies prepare us to respond by increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones, such as cortisol. When a young child’s stress response systems are activated within an environment of supportive relationships with adults, these physiological effects are buffered and brought back down to baseline. The result is the development of healthy stress response systems. However, if the stress response is extreme and long-lasting, and buffering relationships are unavailable to the child, the result can be damaged, weakened systems and brain architecture, with lifelong repercussions"

 

[Ruby Rose]

There are many kinds of "displacement activity" shown in the animal kingdom, and especially in us humans I believe, (or psychologists say, and I've no reason to doubt it).

In its simplest form this is what we probably all remember or recognise as a caricature from the tv of the man coming home from a difficult day in the office and taking it out on his wife by arguing or overreacting to something, or by "kicking the dog"!

My interest has been prompted by some destructive actions by the teenage son of a friend against his father's property, (whose parents split a year ago, but his dad isn't letting the son know he's now seeing someone else, even though he'll be hearing rumours).

Here are a few links you may find useful, if you want to learn more as I do:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-displacement-in-psychology-4587375

This one allows you to search for quotes, (but refers to animals):
https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/stress-fear-or-displacement-behavior

"Displacement behaviors (or “activities,” as first coined) are believed to occur when an animal is in conflict about two incompatible desires. For example, an animal wants to defend his mating territory, but is afraid of being injured. Animals are either ambivalent (“approach versus avoid”) or unsure of what to do next."

This website came up during my search too, relating to child development:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/

Quote:
"Learning how to cope with adversity is an important part of healthy child development. When we are threatened, our bodies prepare us to respond by increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones, such as cortisol. When a young child’s stress response systems are activated within an environment of supportive relationships with adults, these physiological effects are buffered and brought back down to baseline. The result is the development of healthy stress response systems. However, if the stress response is extreme and long-lasting, and buffering relationships are unavailable to the child, the result can be damaged, weakened systems and brain architecture, with lifelong repercussions"

This final quote of yours is 'right on'...I will have to dig out my old notes on this topic...if I dare as sometimes, it is best to leave it be.

 

[Judycat]

I remember as a child my mother had just yelled at me about some insignificant thing as I was getting water from the faucet. I turned that thing off in a rage and when I came back later to wash my hands I couldn't turn it on without using both hands and some elbow grease. Same kind of situation, Mom giving me hell about something, I got angry and pulled a shrub right out of the ground with one hand, then she started yelling at me about that. I felt bad about that one. The shrub didn't do anything. I don't get ticked off as much now that the folks are dead. Don't even slam a cupboard door anymore.

 

[Elsie]

"...However, if the stress response is extreme and long-lasting, and buffering relationships are unavailable to the child, the result can be damaged, weakened systems and brain architecture, with lifelong repercussions."

Put downs, things that troubled me ignored, by 8 years old I knew to say nothing about how my head and hands would shake when I was under stress. I believed if seen by anybody they would be proof I was a loser. And so every day I "disguised" them as best I could. I'm 85, the shaking is severe and full body now, and though I've met others with the same shaking neurological disorder ET, I still have that "lifelong repercussion" of wanting to 'disguise," or hide it.