What is repetition compulsion?

Repetition compulsion is a psychological phenomenon where individuals repeat behaviors or emotional states that are similar to past trauma, attempting to resolve it. It's a concept that aligns with the idea of trying to solve unresolved issues by putting oneself in similar situations repeatedly. This behavior can be seen, for example, in individuals who have suffered from sexual or physical trauma and yet find themselves in similar traumatic situations again. It may seem illogical, but it's driven by a deeper psychological need to correct or make sense of past experiences 1.

Paul Conti further explains that the limbic system, which governs emotions, often overrides logical thinking. This emotional part of our brains does not recognize time effectively – it doesn’t differentiate between past and present feelings associated with trauma. This lack of temporal distinction by the limbic system often leads individuals to try and 'fix' past traumas by recreating similar scenarios in hopes of a different outcome, which unfortunately may not always be the case 2.