Retroreflective meaning10/6/2023 ![]() They might be highly mobilized but are unconsciously blocked from the necessary phase of action because of the existential anxiety that accompanies nothingness. But none of these goals ever come to fruition. ![]() They speak about the projects they will undertake, the trips and vacations they will go on, the new job they want, or their desire to change careers or go back to school. Many people feel psychologically safer to stay in the phase of mobilization because they do not have to risk the possibility of things not turning out the way they hope. The arrow has left the bow, and for better or worse that action will have consequences. Once you have reached the stage of action there is no going back. One of the reasons we avoid action is because of the threat of nothingness. Retroflection is not only constrained to violent actions obviously, but to all actions that involve connection with others in your environment. All of these actions end up turning against your own body because it’s a way to deflect the negative outcome that would ensue from directing this action towards the person it is actually meant for. You may have hit your hands hard against your steering wheel when a car cut you off, or kicked some object, or punched a pillow or wall. Think about a time when you were really mad to the point of almost losing control. Retroflection might manifest itself in less obvious ways like getting sick all the time, constantly hurting oneself in accidents, or doing poorly in school or at work. These might include self-harm like cutting or hitting one’s head against a wall over and over. So instead of summoning up the energy to physically leave the relationship, fight back, or get help, a person engages in self-destructive acts. Sometimes unhealthy power relationships exist where the weaker party knows that an aggressive action would be met with more violence or other psychologically dangerous consequences. You will quickly put a halt to the action of walking and turn that energy back upon yourself as you abruptly stop to avoid getting hit. ![]() As you start walking you see a car streaking across the intersection out of the corner of your eye. Let’s say you’ve been waiting five minutes to cross a busy street and the walk signal finally turns on. Like all of the resistances, retroflection often serves an important protective function for a person and is even necessary for survival. This occurs when a person turns his stored up, mobilized energy back upon himself instead of out into the environment. The Gestalt resistance between the stages of mobilization and action in the needs satisfaction cycle is retroflection.
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