Journals / World Language Studies / 2025 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2

REGRESSION AS A DEFENCE MECHANISM IN EUGENE O’NEILL’S “ALL GOD’S CHILLUN GOT WINGS”

EUGENE O’NEİLL’İN “ALL GOD’S CHİLLUN GOT WİNGS” ADLI OYUNUNDA BİR SAVUNMA MEKANİZMASI OLARAK GERİLEME

Pages
190–200
Publication Date
2025-12-30
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Regression is a crucial instrument in his work in this respect since it enhances the concept of the human psyche as a whole.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:One of the most significant and well-known defence mechanisms in psychology is the notion of regression.
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Key Findings & Data:According to him, it is a form of defence that forces the ego to return momentarily or permanently to an earlier stage of development rather than accommodating unwanted desires (1905).
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Conclusion & Impact:Regression is a crucial instrument in his work in this respect since it enhances the concept of the human psyche as a whole.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:All God’s Chillun Got Wings · O’Neill · Freud

Abstract

One of the most significant and well-known defence mechanisms in psychology is the notion of regression. This concept is credited to Sigmund Freud. According to him, it is a form of defence that forces the ego to return momentarily or permanently to an earlier stage of development rather than accommodating unwanted desires (1905). The objective of this paper is to examine how Freud and his daughter, Anna Freud, expanded on the definition of regression and its key characteristics. In his plays, Eugene O'Neill frequently uses psychological concepts. His characters are therefore perfect for investigating regression as a defensive strategy. Given that O'Neill is regarded as one of the most significant playwrights of contemporary theatre and is infamous for his sophisticated topics, social narratives, and ostracised characters, it is very simple to apply Freud’s ideas and theories to his plays. Particularly his framework of defence mechanisms. This paper tackles his infamously defiant play “All God's Chillun Got Wings” (1924), which serves as a demonstration of regression's usage and the workings of the human psyche. By the end of the paper, it is evident that O'Neill's employment of Freud's concept of regression serves to amplify the influence of social standards and how it shapes his characters’ conduct in the play. Regression is a crucial instrument in his work in this respect since it enhances the concept of the human psyche as a whole.

Özet

Psikolojideki en önemli ve en bilinen savunma mekanizmalarından biri regresyon kavramıdır. Bu kavram, Sigmund Freud’a atfedilir. Freud’a göre regresyon, egonun istenmeyen arzuları bastırmak yerine, geçici ya da kalıcı olarak gelişimin daha erken bir evresine dönmesini sağlayan bir savunma biçimidir (1905). Bu makalenin amacı, Freud ve kızı Anna Freud’un regresyon tanımını nasıl geliştirdiğini ve bu kavramın temel özelliklerini incelemektir. Eugene O'Neill, eserlerinde sıklıkla psikolojik kavramlara yer verir. Bu yüzden karakterleri, regresyonun bir savunma mekanizması olarak incelenmesi için oldukça uygundur. O'Neill, çağdaş tiyatronun en önemli oyun yazarlarından biri olarak kabul edilir ve karmaşık konuları, toplumsal anlatıları ve dışlanmış karakterleriyle tanınır. Bu nedenle Freud’un kuramlarını, özellikle savunma mekanizmaları çerçevesini onun oyunlarına uygulamak oldukça kolaydır. Bu makalede, O'Neill’in tartışmalı ve başkaldıran oyunu “All God's Chillun Got Wings” (1924) ele alınmaktadır. Bu oyun, regresyonun nasıl kullanıldığını ve insan ruhunun işleyişini gözler önüne sermektedir. Makalenin sonunda, O'Neill’in Freud’un regresyon kavramını kullanarak toplumsal normların etkisini ve bu normların karakterlerin davranışlarını nasıl şekillendirdiğini daha da görünür kıldığı açıkça ortaya konmaktadır. Bu bağlamda regresyon, insan ruhunu bütüncül bir şekilde ele alma fikrini güçlendirdiği için O’Neill’in eserlerinde oldukça önemli bir araçtır.

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Cite This Article

Rayyan, M. M. R. (2025). REGRESSION AS A DEFENCE MECHANISM IN EUGENE O’NEILL’S “ALL GOD’S CHILLUN GOT WINGS”. World Language Studies, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2, 190–200. https://ajindex.com/articles/1623881

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