Repression in psychoanalysis terms

Repression
In classical psychoanalytic theory and related depth psychology approaches, repression is considered a fundamental defense mechanism that excludes painful experiences and unacceptable impulses from conscious awareness.

This process operates unconsciously, serving as a protective barrier against anxiety caused by objectionable sexual desires, hostile feelings, and ego-threatening experiences and memories of various kinds.

Repression also plays a role in other defense mechanisms such as denial, where an individual initially attempts to suppress unpleasant realities and, if suppression fails, then denies them. (Compare with suppression.)

(Source: Paraphrased and adapted from the APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2018)

https://dictionary.apa.org/repression