Looking up...
He tried to suppress the painful memory of the accident.
Er versuchte, die schmerzhafte Erinnerung an den Unfall zu unterdrücken.
bewusst oder unbewusst verhindern, dass eine Erinnerung bewusst wird oder Einfluss auf das Denken oder Verhalten hat
Therapists warn that suppressing traumatic memories can lead to long-term psychological issues.
Therapeuten warnen, dass das Unterdrücken traumatischer Erinnerungen zu langfristigen psychischen Problemen führen kann.
Often associated with psychological defense mechanisms like repression, but can also refer to intentional avoidance.
etwas bewusst vergessen oder aus dem Gedächtnis streichen, um nicht daran erinnert zu werden
She decided to suppress the memory of their last conversation to move on.
Sie beschloss, die Erinnerung an ihr letztes Gespräch zu unterdrücken, um weiterzumachen.
Can imply a deliberate effort to avoid thinking about something.
'Suppress' often implies a conscious effort to avoid thinking about something, while 'repress' typically refers to an unconscious defense mechanism. In German, 'unterdrücken' can cover both, but 'verdrängen' is more specific to repression.
In psychology, it is generally advised not to suppress traumatic memories entirely, as this can lead to long-term issues. Instead, therapeutic approaches like 'exposure therapy' are often recommended.
The phrase combines 'suppress' (from Latin 'supprimere', meaning 'to press down') and 'memory' (from Latin 'memoria'). The verb 'suppress' has been used in psychological contexts since the late 19th century to describe the inhibition of thoughts or memories.
In German, 'unterdrücken' is the most common translation for 'suppress' in this context, though 'verdrängen' (to repress) is also used, especially in psychological discussions. 'Unterdrücken' can imply a more active effort, while 'verdrängen' often suggests an unconscious process.