Oh my word Regression, Repression

Repressive regimes are looked down by democratic regimes because it is a sign of country’s regression. Repression can be state-sponsored. People could display repression when they have disproportionate wealth or political power unless they are regressed (going backwards, stepping back, returning to an earlier state). Regress is a verb. Regress means moving backwards, reverting, deteriorating, returning to an earlier form or state; going to less advance form or to an earlier state in an abstract sense.

In psychology, regression means going back to an earlier mental stage or returning to former mental state. Regression, regressiveness and regressing are nouns: an instance of going back, the act that takes someone or something to earlier stage; a backward step or movement. Communist parties of India criticize the liberalization and globalization of Indian economy as regressive policies.

Regressive is an adjective: tending to regress, that which is characterized by regression. At times a government can come under attack from the political parties in Opposition for imposing regressive taxes: regressive tax is the one is proportionately greater on lower incomes. Regression comes from the Latin word ‘regressus’ which means ‘stepped back’. Regress refers to retreating, going back, degenerating, relapsing.

The opposite of regression is progress. Repress means controlling something or someone, suppressing, restraining or suppressing an impulse, check, to control emotions. Politically; repression refers to controlling an outbreak of revolt against the government, quelling dissent by using police or by special agents; prevent somebody from protesting against the government or regime, subjugating voice or protest or a revolt, nipping riots in the bud. In psychological terms, repression refers to forcing or controlling desires and urges that are in conflict with the society’s norms such as homosexuality (at point of time) which results in abnormal behaviour in people.

He repressed his impulse to behave violently by counting 10 to 1! The government repressed the need to increase bus fares fearing criticism from the political parties and the people. The couple repressed their tears of grief as they went to see their child in the hospital. Monks, nuns and saints repress their sexual urges however natural they are.

Democratically elected governments restrain from repressing the political dissent in a country. However, in authoritarian regimes any dissent is repressed by the establishment or the ruling regime. Repressed is an adjective referring to suppression of an emotion. The repressed soul finally got an outlet when she met a man who loved her. Repression and repressiveness are nouns, and repressive is an adjective. Is repressing an emotion a sign of regression?

Kovuuri G Reddy