What term is used for blocking material from consciousness?

The term used for blocking material from consciousness is repression. Repression is a psychological defense mechanism that involves unconsciously pushing distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings out of awareness. This process is often automatic and serves to protect the individual from experiencing emotional pain or anxiety associated with these thoughts or memories.

In contrast, suppression involves a conscious effort to ignore or avoid certain thoughts and feelings, meaning that the individual is aware of what they are pushing away but chooses to do so. Isolation refers to the separation of emotions from thoughts or memories, allowing a person to cognitively process an experience while detaching from the emotional aspects. Dissociation encompasses a broader range of mechanisms including losing a sense of time, identity, or memory due to trauma or stress.

Thus, repression is the most accurate term in this context for the subconscious blocking of material from awareness, emphasizing its involuntary nature in protecting the psyche from distress.