Opposing Goals

Abstract

In all situations in which nursing is practiced, whatever interaction between nurse and patient is observed can be examined and studied in the light of the basic principle that the direction of human behavior is forward. Regression is a concept that is well accepted in psychiatry but nurses can speculate on its validity; it is possible that an individual learns about living with people in relation to specific tools available at various eras of development and in relation to specific tasks that require learning in these eras.¹ It is further possible that individuals build a conventional superstructure of accomplishments upon the base line in terms of actual learning, and that when this superstructure no longer works, earlier capacities or tools are again put to use, and the point at which learning to live with people has stopped or the base line of actual learning can be identified. Then it can be seen that the basic direction is forward, that there is a continuing attempt to complete a task in learning at a specific era, which may have long been passed in terms of chronological age. Keener observation in clinical situations will clarify the hypotheses that the basic direction is forward and that what is meant by regression is the use of earlier capacities in relation to earlier unmet tasks.