What is this called in psychology? (emotion, projection, everything)

[homenj]

I remember reading in psychology reading about how little kids might have been traumatized by a black cat for example. Years later, they don't remember this but when they are say 18 they fear black cats and don't know why. Does anyone know what this is called in psychology? Thanks.

[ClaraC]

Repressed memory?

[goodheathen]

Childhood amnesia probably explains part of it.

[Wilson513]

This is called either transference, projection or displacement. A current event triggers emotions that were sourced by an experience from childhood usually from age 3-8 and not necessarily truly traumatic, only perceived as such by the child.

Don't try to understand it by Freudian psychology. Freud thought everything was cause by childhood sexual fantasies. He was a not and a pervert.