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{{Short description|Assertion that a statement is false}}
{{about||the politics of science/history and public policy|Denialism|other uses|Denial (disambiguation)}}
{{About||other uses|Denial (disambiguation)|and|Deny (disambiguation)|and|Denied (disambiguation)}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2009}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Denies|Denys}}
{{Psychoanalysis |Concepts}}
], found in the four ]s in the ]. In it, Peter denies having associated with Jesus, who is being sought by authorities.]]
'''Denial''', in ] usage, has at least three meanings:


* the assertion that any particular statement or allegation, whose truth is uncertain, is not true;<ref name="OED denial">{{cite book |title= Oxford English Dictionary |edition= Online, U.S. English |chapter= denial |chapter-url= http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/denial |publisher= ] |access-date= 2014-05-24 |via= oxforddictionaries.com |archive-date= 2016-05-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160510012624/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/denial |url-status= dead }}</ref>
'''Denial''', in ordinary English usage, is asserting that a statement or allegation is not true.<ref>Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., "Denial"</ref> The same word, and also '''abnegation''', is used for a ] ] postulated by ], in which a person is faced with a fact that is too uncomfortable to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/counseling/defenses.html |title=Defenses |publisher=www.psychpage.com |accessdate=2008-03-11 |last= |first=}}</ref><ref>Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1997 draft addition, Denial: in psychoanalysis, suppression (usually unconscious) of a painful or unacceptable wish or of experiences of which one is ashamed. Now also in more general use, especially as "in denial" (chiefly U.S.).</ref>
* the refusal of a request; and
* the assertion that a true statement is false.


In psychology, ] is a person's choice to deny reality as a way to avoid a psychologically uncomfortable truth.
The subject may use:
* '''simple denial''': deny the ] of the unpleasant fact altogether
* ''']''': admit the fact but deny its seriousness (a combination of denial and ])
* ''']''': admit both the fact and seriousness but deny ] by ] somebody or something else.


In ], ] is a ] in which a person is faced with a fact that is too uncomfortable to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming evidence. The concept of denial is important in ]s, where the abandonment or reversal of denial that ] is problematic forms the basis of the first, fourth, fifth, eighth, and tenth steps.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The concept of denial is particularly important to the study of ].
<!----
It is important to note what makes denial denial and not just refusal to admit to or accept a truth or fact rests in the degree of individual's awareness of the existence of the truth or fact. In denial, an individual does not see or is mostly unconscious of existence of the truth or fact. The choice to refuse reality, then, is unconscious as well. Refusal to admit to or accept a truth or fact differs from denial in that the individual recognizes or is conscious of the existence of the truth or fact but consciously refuses to accept it as such.
----->
The theory of denial was first researched seriously by ]. She classified denial as a mechanism of the ] mind, because it conflicts with the ability to learn from and cope with reality. Where denial occurs in mature minds, it is most often associated with ], dying and ]. More recent research has significantly expanded the scope and utility of the concept. ] used denial as the first of ], and the idea has been extended to include the reactions of survivors to news of a death.


People who are exhibiting symptoms of a serious medical condition sometimes deny or ignore those symptoms because the idea of having a serious health problem is uncomfortable or disturbing. The ] cites denial as a principal reason that treatment of a ] is delayed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ornato Joseph P.|last2=Hand Mary M.|date=2014-03-18|title=Warning Signs of a Heart Attack|journal=Circulation|volume=129|issue=11|pages=e393–e395|doi=10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006126|pmid=24637436|doi-access=free}}</ref> Because the symptoms are so varied, and often have other potential explanations, the opportunity exists for the patient to deny the reality of the emergency, often with fatal consequences. It is common for patients to delay recommended ]s or other tests because of a fear of ], although this usually worsens the ].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rivera-Franco|first1=Monica M|last2=Leon-Rodriguez|first2=Eucario|date=2018-01-08|title=Delays in Breast Cancer Detection and Treatment in Developing Countries|journal=Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research|volume=12|doi=10.1177/1178223417752677|issn=1178-2234|pmc=5802601|pmid=29434475}}</ref>
Many contemporary psychoanalysts treat denial as the first stage of a coping cycle. When an unwelcome change occurs, a trauma of some sort, the first impulse to disbelieve begins the process of coping. That denial, in a healthy mind, slowly rises to greater consciousness. Gradually becoming a subconscious pressure, just beneath the surface of overt awareness, the mechanism of coping then involves repression, while the person accumulates the emotional resources to fully face the trauma. Once faced, the person deals with the trauma in a stage alternately called acceptance or enlightenment, depending on the scope of the issue and the therapist's school of thought. After this stage, once sufficiently dealt with, or dealt with for the time being, the trauma must sink away from total conscious awareness again. Left metaphorically upon a back burner or put away in a cupboard, the process of sublimation involves a balance of neither quite forgetting nor quite remembering. This allows the trauma to re-emerge in consciousness if it involves an ongoing process such as a protracted illness. Or sublimation may begin the full resolution process, where the trauma finally sinks away into eventual forgetfulness. Occasionally this entire cycle has been referred to in modern parlance as denial, often confusing the full cycle with only one stage in the cycle.


⚫ == Psychology ==
Unlike some other defense mechanisms postulated by ] (for instance, ]), the general existence of denial is fairly easy to verify, even for non-specialists. On the other hand, denial is one of the most controversial defense mechanisms, since it can be easily used to create ] theories: anything the subject says or does that appears to disprove the interpreter's theory is explained, not as evidence that the interpreter's theory is wrong, but as the subject's being "in denial". However, researchers note that in some cases of corroborated ], the victims sometimes make a series of partial confessions and recantations as they struggle with their own denial and the denial of ] or family members. Use of denial theory in a legal setting therefore must be carefully regulated and experts' credentials verified. "Formulaic ]" simply by "being a denier" has been castigated by English judges and academics.The main objection is that denial theory is founded on the premise that that which the supposed denier is denying is truth. This usurps the judge (and/or jury) as triers of fact <ref>{{cite journal |author=London, Kamala; Bruck, Maggie; Ceci, Stephen J.; Shuman, Daniel W. |title=Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: What Does the Research Tell Us About the Ways That Children Tell? |journal=Psychology, Public Policy, and Law |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=194–226 |year=2005 |doi=10.1037/1076-8971.11.1.194 }}</ref>
Initial short-term denial can be a good thing, giving time to adjust to a painful or stressful issue. It might also be a precursor to making some sort of change in one's life. But denial can also be harmful; if denial persists and prevents a person from taking appropriate action, it's a harmful response.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stuck in denial? How to move on|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/denial/art-20047926|access-date=2020-10-19|website=Mayo Clinic|language=en}}</ref>


== In political and economic contexts ==
The concept of denial is important in ]s, where the abandonment or reversal of denial forms the basis of the first, fourth, fifth, eighth and tenth steps. The ability to deny or minimize is an essential part of what enables an addict to continue his or her behavior despite evidence that—to an outsider—appears overwhelming. This is cited as one of the reasons that compulsion is seldom effective in treating addiction—the habit of denial remains.
Some people who have been known to be in denial of historical or scientific facts accepted by the mainstream of society or by experts, for political or economic reasons, have been referred to as ''denialists''<ref>2005, The Cape Times 2005-03-11 {{full citation needed|date=April 2019}}</ref> or '']''. Examples of denialism in this context include:


*]
When a family intervention is conducted to help a person engaged in self-destructive behavior such as alcohol or drug abuse to accept help for his problem, denial is sometimes reduced or eliminated altogether. This is not always necessary, however, for the intervention to be successful in having the person accept help.
*]
*]
*] (such as ])
*]
*]


==In religious contexts==
Understanding and avoiding denial is also important in the treatment of various diseases. The ] cites denial as a principal reason that treatment of a ] is delayed. Because the symptoms are so varied, and often have other potential explanations, the opportunity exists for the patient to deny the emergency, often with fatal consequences. It is common for patients to delay mammograms or other tests because of a fear of cancer, even though this is clearly maladaptive. It is the responsibility of the care team, and of the nursing staff in particular, to train at-risk patients to avoid this behavior.
In the ], the Jewish ] sect is noted for its denial of beliefs held by other sections of the ] community: they did not believe in the ] or the existence of ]s and ].<ref>], (1834), on Matthew 22, accessed on 11 December 2024</ref>

== Types ==

===Denial of fact===
In this form of denial, someone avoids a fact by utilizing deception. This lying can take the form of an outright falsehood (commission), leaving out certain details to tailor a story (omission), or by falsely agreeing to something (assent, also referred to as "yessing" behavior). Someone who is in denial of fact is typically using lies to avoid facts they think may be painful to themselves or others.

===Denial of responsibility===
This form of denial involves avoiding personal responsibility by:
* ''']''': a direct statement shifting culpability and may overlap with denial of fact
* ''']''': an attempt to make the effects or results of an action appear to be less harmful than they may actually be, or
* ''']''': when someone takes a choice and attempts to make that choice look okay due to their perception of what is "right" in a situation.
* ''']''': when someone acts in a way unbecoming of their age (e.g. whining, temper tantrum, etc.)

Someone using denial of responsibility is usually attempting to avoid potential harm or pain by shifting ] away from themselves.

For example:
:Troy breaks up with his girlfriend because he is unable to control his anger, and then blames her for everything that ever happened.

===Denial of impact===
Denial of impact involves a person's avoiding thinking about or understanding the harms of his or her behavior has caused to self or others, i.e. denial of the consequences. Doing this enables that person to avoid feeling a sense of ] and it can prevent him or her from developing remorse or empathy for others. Denial of impact reduces or eliminates a sense of pain or harm from poor decisions.

===Denial of cycle===
Many who use this type of denial will say things such as, "]". Denial of cycle is where a person avoids looking at their decisions leading up to an event or does not consider their pattern of decision making and how harmful behavior is repeated. The pain and harm being avoided by this type of denial is more of the effort needed to change the focus from a singular event to looking at preceding events. It can also serve as a way to blame or justify behavior (see above).

===Denial of denial===
This can be a difficult concept for many people to identify with in themselves, but is a major barrier to changing hurtful behaviors. Denial of denial involves thoughts, actions and behaviors which bolster confidence that nothing needs to be changed in one's personal behavior. This form of denial typically overlaps with all of the other forms of denial, but involves more self-delusion. Denial at this level can have significant consequences both personally and at a societal level.<ref>See {{cite book|author= ]| title= A Species in Denial| year= 2003|pages= 528|url= http://www.worldtransformation.com/a-species-in-denial/|publisher= FHA Publishing & Communications Pty Ltd|isbn=978-1-74129-001-1}}</ref>

===DARVO===
] covers a wide range of offensive behaviour. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset. In the legal sense, it is behaviour which ''is'' found threatening or disturbing.

DARVO is an ] to describe a common strategy of abusers: '''D'''eny the abuse, then '''A'''ttack the victim for attempting to make them accountable for their offense, thereby '''R'''eversing '''V'''ictim and '''O'''ffender. This may involve ] and ].

Psychologist ] writes:

{{bq |1=...I have observed that actual abusers threaten, bully and make a nightmare for anyone who holds them accountable or asks them to change their abusive behavior. This attack, intended to chill and terrify, typically includes threats of law suits, overt and covert attacks on the whistle-blower's credibility, and so on. The attack will often take the form of focusing on ridiculing the person who attempts to hold the offender accountable. he offender rapidly creates the impression that the abuser is the wronged one, while the victim or concerned observer is the offender. Figure and ground are completely reversed. The offender is on the offense and the person attempting to hold the offender accountable is put on the defense.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Freyd, J.J. |title=II. Violations of power, adaptive blindness, and betrayal trauma theory |journal=] |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=22–32 |date=February 1997 |doi=10.1177/0959353597071004 |url=http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/articles/freyd97r.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref>}}


== See also == == See also ==
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== Notes == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


== References == == Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1= Sharot |first1= T. |last2= Korn |first2= C. W. |last3= Dolan |first3= R. J. |title= How unrealistic optimism is maintained in the face of reality |journal= ] |volume= 14 |issue= 11 |year= 2011 |pages= 1475–9 |pmid= 21983684 |pmc= 3204264 |doi= 10.1038/nn.2949}}
* ''Columbia Encyclopedia'' (2003).
* {{cite journal |author=Davidhizar R, Poole V, Giger JN, Henderson M |title=When your patient uses denial |journal=J Pract Nurs |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=10–4 |date=June 1998 |pmid=9687661 }} * {{cite journal |last1= Izuma |first1= K. |last2= Adolphs |first2= R. |title= The brain's rose-colored glasses |journal= ] |volume= 14 |issue= 11 |year= 2011 |pages= 1355–6 |pmid= 22030541 |doi= 10.1038/nn.2960|s2cid= 22368367 }}
* {{cite journal |last1= Travis |first1= A. C. |last2= Pawa |first2= S. |last3= LeBlanc |first3= J. K. |last4= Rogers|first4=A. I. |title= Denial: What is it, how do we recognize it, and what should we do about it? |journal= ] |volume= 106 |issue= 6 |year= 2011 |pages= 1028–30 |pmid= 21637266 |doi=10.1038/ajg.2010.466|s2cid= 37719358 }}
* by Kari Marie Norgaard March 2011 ISBN 9780262515856 ]
* {{cite journal |last1= Vos |first1=M. S. |last2= de Haes |first2= H. J. C. M. |title= Denial indeed is a process |journal= ] |volume= 72 |issue= 1 |year= 2011 |page= 138 |pmid= 21377573 |doi= 10.1016/j.lungcan.2011.01.026}}


{{Defence mechanisms}} {{Defense mechanisms}}
{{Psychological manipulation}}
{{Abuse}}


]
]
]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 17:23, 19 December 2024

Assertion that a statement is false For other uses, see Denial (disambiguation), Deny (disambiguation), and Denied (disambiguation). "Denies" redirects here. Not to be confused with Denys.
A 17th century painting depicting the Denial of Peter, found in the four Gospels in the New Testament. In it, Peter denies having associated with Jesus, who is being sought by authorities.

Denial, in colloquial English usage, has at least three meanings:

  • the assertion that any particular statement or allegation, whose truth is uncertain, is not true;
  • the refusal of a request; and
  • the assertion that a true statement is false.

In psychology, denialism is a person's choice to deny reality as a way to avoid a psychologically uncomfortable truth.

In psychoanalytic theory, denial is a defense mechanism in which a person is faced with a fact that is too uncomfortable to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming evidence. The concept of denial is important in twelve-step programs, where the abandonment or reversal of denial that substance dependence is problematic forms the basis of the first, fourth, fifth, eighth, and tenth steps.

People who are exhibiting symptoms of a serious medical condition sometimes deny or ignore those symptoms because the idea of having a serious health problem is uncomfortable or disturbing. The American Heart Association cites denial as a principal reason that treatment of a heart attack is delayed. Because the symptoms are so varied, and often have other potential explanations, the opportunity exists for the patient to deny the reality of the emergency, often with fatal consequences. It is common for patients to delay recommended mammograms or other tests because of a fear of cancer, although this usually worsens the long-term medical outcome.

Psychology

Initial short-term denial can be a good thing, giving time to adjust to a painful or stressful issue. It might also be a precursor to making some sort of change in one's life. But denial can also be harmful; if denial persists and prevents a person from taking appropriate action, it's a harmful response.

In political and economic contexts

Some people who have been known to be in denial of historical or scientific facts accepted by the mainstream of society or by experts, for political or economic reasons, have been referred to as denialists or true believers. Examples of denialism in this context include:

In religious contexts

In the New Testament, the Jewish Sadducee sect is noted for its denial of beliefs held by other sections of the Jewish community: they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead or the existence of angels and spirits.

See also

References

  1. "denial". Oxford English Dictionary (Online, U.S. English ed.). Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2014-05-24 – via oxforddictionaries.com.
  2. Ornato Joseph P.; Hand Mary M. (2014-03-18). "Warning Signs of a Heart Attack". Circulation. 129 (11): e393 – e395. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006126. PMID 24637436.
  3. Rivera-Franco, Monica M; Leon-Rodriguez, Eucario (2018-01-08). "Delays in Breast Cancer Detection and Treatment in Developing Countries". Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research. 12. doi:10.1177/1178223417752677. ISSN 1178-2234. PMC 5802601. PMID 29434475.
  4. "Stuck in denial? How to move on". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  5. 2005, The Cape Times 2005-03-11
  6. Barnes, A., (1834), Barnes' Notes on Matthew 22, accessed on 11 December 2024

Further reading

Defence mechanisms
Level 1: Pathological
Level 2: Immature
Level 3: Neurotic
Level 4: Mature
Other
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