“Repression was considered by Freud to be the most basic and important defense strategy, in which memories too frightening or painful are excluded from an individual’s conscious awareness. Although repression is the fundamental concept behind psychoanalysis, it is rarely entirely successful on its own and is often employed with other defense mechanisms to prevent the repressed memories ‘breaking through’ into consciousness (Erdelyi, 1985). Successful repression of traumatic memories can affect an individual at unconscious, semiconscious and, according to some, physiological levels (Pennebaker & O’Heeron, 1984).”