What Causes Sublimation?

Sublimation is a term made famous by the Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. One of Freud's largest contributions to psychology was his belief that a person's motivation is driven by sex and aggression. This leads to psychological discomfort; thus, in order to release that discomfort, the person channels his energy into one of many defense mechanisms. One of these is called sublimation.

Significance

• Sublimation involves directing an uncomfortable thought or feeling into something productive. Freud believed that this helps a person avoid doing something dangerous or socially harmful. For example, if a man is angry because someone hit on his girlfriend, he may want to go beat the guy up (aggression). This has negative consequences, including getting arrested, so instead, he goes to the gym and punches a punching bag. He has channeled his frustration into something productive.

History

• Freud developed his theory of defense mechanisms in the early 1900s, and this theory was followed up by his daughter, Anna Freud.

Types

• Both sexual urges and aggressive urges are channeled into something productive through what the Freuds called sublimation. Sexual energy is often put into doing something artistic, such as painting or writing, while aggressive energy is put into activities of a physical nature, like playing sports.

Effects

• Sublimation is often an effective outlet for reducing internal conflict. It can relieve anxiety and tension while allowing the person to do something productive. Creativity and physical energy are enhanced through sublimation due to the increase in these types of activities.

Warning

• Sublimation does not always relieve internal conflicts. It may be effective in reducing inappropriate sexual and aggressive urges, but sometimes, counseling is necessary if the urges are continuous, extremely strong or pose a danger.