What does dissociation refer to in a psychological context?

Dissociation in a psychological context primarily refers to a splitting off from conscious awareness, which means an individual may experience a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. This can manifest in various ways, such as feeling detached from one’s body or surroundings, experiencing gaps in memory related to personal information or events, or feeling emotionally disconnected from one’s experiences. It often arises as a coping mechanism in response to trauma or stress, allowing individuals to distance themselves from overwhelming emotions or memories.

The other options describe different psychological phenomena that do not accurately capture the essence of dissociation. For instance, avoiding social situations relates more to social anxiety or social phobia, emotional numbness can be a symptom of different mental health conditions but does not specifically denote dissociation, and compulsive behaviors are associated with anxiety management in disorders like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder rather than dissociative experiences. Thus, the most accurate description of dissociation is indeed the splitting off from conscious awareness.