Sublimation in psychology: what is it in simple words

What is sublimation?

Sublimation is a protective mechanism of the psyche that allows you to redirect the energy of negative experiences into useful activities. Sigmund Freud saw it as a person's opportunity to rise above base instincts, transforming painful emotions into energy for important and sought-after work. The scientist first outlined this concept in 1900.

The term "sublimation" is derived from the Latin word sublimatio, which literally means "ascension" or "spiritualization." In physics, this word is synonymous with the word “sublimation” and implies that the substance immediately evaporates, bypassing the liquid phase. In psychology, sublimation implies a similar process - a person realizes his experiences at a higher (elevated) level, avoiding their base manifestations.

Modern psychology considers sublimation as an important mechanism of socialization. Its manifestations are studied within the framework of creativity psychology, child and sports psychology. In everyday life, it allows you to get rid of tension, states of depression and dissatisfaction. When engaged in active activity, a person experiences pleasure and satisfaction from the feeling of the work done.

Examples of sublimation

Using the examples presented, you can find out for yourself that sublimating people are satisfied people.

Sport

After leaving a job or ending a relationship, a person may experience excessive emotions that completely consume his life. The girl was abandoned by her boyfriend, and instead of shedding tears and grieving, she bought a gym membership. Pain, sadness, and frustration were integrated into the sport and made the girl happy and balanced.

Through sports you can throw out all the negative energy and get rid of unnecessary thoughts

Drawing

Routine affairs, constant care for children and family, lead to a state of complete despair. The drawing technique helps a lot in this matter. It relaxes the brain, helps get rid of obsessive thoughts and gives a feeling of self-worth.

As I have already described, da Vinci transformed his sexual energy into art. Through this practice you can relieve stress and reduce anxiety.

By drawing, you concentrate on the action, which also helps clear your mind.

Music

Music is a great way to sublimate the flow of energy in a positive direction. Songs about sad, broken love were written as a result of sublimation. Experiencing mental pain, melancholy, resentment, sadness, humanity has written many beautiful, wonderful songs and music.

Music is also a great activity for sublimation, as it concentrates you

Religion

Many people, disillusioned with life and having received deep mental shock, are saved in religion. Having lost a loved one, the meaning of life, having suffered failures, a person seeks protection from higher powers. Religion in this regard helps a person to regain peace through the idea that he is needed, important to God, and that he is loved with unconditional love.

Religion helps you tune in and find peace in your head

Dancing

Through dancing, women awaken inner confidence in their own beauty and grace. Many older women, realizing that they are losing their attractiveness and youth, again sublimate at dance. This release of energy allows them to stay afloat and feel satisfied.

Dancing is also a sport, but it also involves creativity.

Poetry and prose

Soul-tearing lyrical poems and dramatic novels are again the result of sublimation. Freud's psychoanalysis precisely clearly notices the withdrawal of a person from mental shock to the platform of creativity. All the great writers who wrote their best works sublimated actions into art and philosophy.

You can throw out all your negative thoughts on paper.

Origin of the term

For a complete understanding, it is necessary to first consider the physical meaning of this concept. In physics, this is the name for the process of dry sublimation - the transformation of a substance from a solid phase into a gaseous phase. This phenomenon can be observed in iodine crystals or pieces of “dry ice” (frozen CO2 used by ice cream makers). In the open air, these substances quickly evaporate, while remaining completely dry.

Ordinary ice from water can also sublimate if placed in a vacuum. This is used in the production of instant (freeze-dried) coffee. The concentrated solution is frozen and ground into small pieces, then placed in a vacuum. All the ice evaporates, leaving porous granules.

Sigmund Freud drew a parallel between this physical phenomenon and a special mental process in which a person manages to contain strong feelings and channel this energy into a constructive channel. The scientist described this process as redirecting the energy of unacceptable desires (sexual, sadistic) to solve useful problems. He considered this a natural self-defense mechanism of our psyche and looked for ways to use it in psychotherapy.

Freud's theory

Ambivalence - what is it in psychology

Sigmund Freud radically changed many psychological theories. He believed that humans have two basic instincts: life and death. The first allows people to reproduce, the second makes them kill, cause pain, etc.

Important! Freud believed that, thanks to sublimation processes, civilization arose.

The psychoanalyst himself did not even deny the influence of energy redirection on his activities. During his time, sex was considered acceptable only for the purpose of conceiving children. In other cases it was unacceptable. Therefore, Freud devoted his entire life to science. Sexual energy required an outlet, and the psychoanalyst turned it into developing theories and writing works.

According to Freud, Leonardo da Vinci is also a striking example of sublimation. He did not have a personal life, but he actively developed his ideas in engineering, creativity, and inventions.

Freud also expressed an interesting idea: if you make a brief analysis of the lives of outstanding personalities, it becomes clear that all of them did not have a personal life. Therefore, they had to look for ways to realize their desires.

Sublimation can mean that a person gets the opportunity to make his dreams and desires come true, since he has the energy to work. Freud's theory is considered controversial in the modern world; not all psychologists share it.

How does sublimation work?

The operating principle of sublimation is based on the conscious or unconscious redirection of mental and emotional energy in a constructive direction. This process allows you to get rid of the state of internal conflict , deriving additional benefits from it. A person copes with feelings of anger, dissatisfaction and other negative experiences by allowing emotions to spill out in the form of creative energy or physical activity.

Everyone can choose the most effective method of sublimation for themselves. For some it is creativity, for others it is playing sports, for others it is physical labor or cleaning the apartment. If something irritates you to the point of shaking your muscles, try spending the next few hours tidying up your kitchen, bathroom, or entire apartment. Time will fly by and you will feel better.

Sublimation allows people to cope with a wide variety of experiences, complexes and unacceptable desires. For example, various forms of art are often a sublimation of sexual complexes. And a person with sadistic tendencies can sublimate them by working as a surgeon and bringing benefit to people. Thus, sublimation is a natural mechanism that allows you to suppress almost any unwanted emotions. Sometimes a person finds a way to do this on his own, sometimes he needs the help of a psychotherapist.

Examples of how sublimation can occur

If we talk about sublimation in simple words, it is worth noting that everyone subconsciously feels how it is easiest for them to cope with negative emotions. In cases where it is difficult to do this on your own, you can seek advice from an experienced Gestalt therapist.

I will give some of the most striking examples of sublimation:

1. A man working in the service sector wants to defend his interests, but due to the nature of his work he is forced to suppress unwanted reactions and always communicate politely with clients. He can sublimate the negative if he starts boxing or simply hitting a pillow at home, imagining an annoying interlocutor in its place.
2. The woman dreams of a family and children, but she has not yet been able to get married. She can give unspent love to homeless animals or other people who need care. However, you should not go to extremes and remain in sublimation for the rest of your life. The reasons why a girl cannot build a relationship can always be analyzed with a personal psychologist and ways to solve problems can be found.
3. The young man became interested in the girl, but she did not share his feelings. He can write a poem in honor of her, draw a picture or compose a song. Of course, this method cannot be called simple, and without a certain talent it will be difficult to achieve outstanding results. But you don’t need to initially strive for fame and recognition. It is enough to live through the situation, and not become isolated in it and give impetus to self-destruction.

There are also many examples in psychology where athletes began their careers by deciding to throw out negative energy through regular training. Such sublimation helped them not only cope with negativity , but also served as a starting point for a successful career.

You can turn to me for help if your life situation has put you at a dead end and you cannot cope with difficult experiences. I will select the most acceptable and simplest method of sublimation for you, and you will be convinced that it really works , radically changing your perception of the world.
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Sublimation according to Freud

Sigmund Freud viewed sublimation as a purely positive defense that allows one to transform unwanted emotions into energy and direct it to solve socially acceptable and important problems. This approach should help relieve internal stress by doing useful things.

Modern methods of psychotherapy use sublimation in a similar way, considering it an effective means of resolving the patient’s internal conflicts. However, today the concept of sublimation is interpreted much more broadly than in Freud’s concept. He saw it as a way to transform unwanted drives. Today it is considered a way to transform any unacceptable impulses and experiences.

How to get the most benefit from sublimation?

Sublimation can be either unconscious or completely conscious. If you learn to sublimate on purpose, this will relieve your psyche by getting rid of all (or most) negative emotions. And anyone can learn this, just follow these short instructions:

1. Relax

. Tension interferes with any constructive activity, so the first thing to do is relax.

2. Remember _

. Think of something that inspires and motivates you. You may not have a dream right now. But by thinking about it regularly, you will find something that will inspire you.

3. Meditate

. Meditation helps you focus on your inner self and better understand your own goals, aspirations and desires.

Other meanings of the term

To finally understand what sublimation is, let's consider the meaning of this term in other areas. This will allow us to draw parallels and better understand the meaning of this concept.

In chemistry and physics

The transition of a solid directly into a gaseous state. In this case, no liquid is formed at all; the solid phase is immediately followed by a gaseous phase. This phenomenon can be observed on iodine crystals or pieces of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide). Both substances at normal atmospheric pressure can only exist in solid and gaseous form.

In the food industry

A special method of drying food. First, they are deep frozen (to a temperature of -18 °C and below), and then placed in a vacuum. The ice evaporates, and the original product retains a significant part of its properties. Sublimation is used in the production of instant coffee, milk powder and various extracts. Meat and vegetables are also dried using this technology. This ensures a long shelf life and subsequent rapid preparation.

In printing

A special printing method that allows you to apply high-quality, moisture-resistant images to fabrics, ceramics and other surfaces.