What perspective does a therapist reflect if they claim a person's irrational fear results from repressed childhood feelings?

The statement that a person’s irrational fear results from repressed childhood feelings is indicative of the psychoanalytic perspective. This school of thought, founded by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the influence of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences on an individual's current behavior and emotional issues. Within this framework, irrational fears are often attributed to unresolved conflicts or repressed memories from early development, suggesting that these deeper psychological factors significantly affect a person's present mental health.

The key idea of repressed feelings aligns closely with the psychoanalytic view, which posits that individuals may develop irrational fears as a defense mechanism against these repressed emotions. Therapeutic approaches stemming from this perspective frequently involve exploring these unconscious feelings and experiences to understand and alleviate the symptoms experienced by the individual. This depth of analysis is distinct to the psychoanalytic perspective compared to the cognitive, behavioral, or humanistic approaches, which focus on different aspects of human psychology and behavior.