What is the main characteristic of suppression in psychological contexts?

The main characteristic of suppression in psychological contexts is the deliberate avoidance of painful situations or thoughts. This defense mechanism involves an individual consciously choosing to push distressing thoughts, emotions, or experiences out of their awareness. In this way, suppression serves a protective function, allowing a person to manage anxiety and maintain psychological stability when faced with distressing material.

Individuals who practice suppression may be aware that they are doing so and attempt to cope with their feelings by diverting their attention elsewhere. This contrasts with other defense mechanisms, such as repression, where the forgetting of memories is more involuntary. Understanding this concept is crucial in fields like psychology and medicine, as it helps professionals and caregivers recognize coping strategies and responses in patients facing emotional distress.