Which term describes a temporary character modification to avoid emotional distress?

Dissociation refers to a mental process where an individual detaches from their thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity, often as a way to cope with emotional distress or traumatic experiences. This temporary alteration allows a person to distance themselves from realities that are overwhelming, thereby reducing emotional pain or anxiety.

In clinical practice and theoretical frameworks, dissociation can manifest in various ways, such as experiencing memory gaps, feeling disconnected from one's body, or a sense of unreality regarding the surrounding environment. It serves as a protective mechanism during periods of stress or trauma, helping individuals navigate difficult emotional landscapes without immediate confrontation of distressing feelings.

In contrast, repression involves unconsciously pushing unacceptable thoughts or emotions out of awareness, intellectualization is a cognitive strategy used to distance oneself from emotional experiences by focusing on logic and reason, and reaction formation is a defense mechanism that involves expressing the opposite of one’s actual feelings to conceal them. Each of these terms describes different methods of coping with emotional challenges, but dissociation specifically emphasizes a temporary disconnection from reality that allows a person to manage distress.