To any psychology people: Can you explain the Absolute Terror to me (Eva spoilers)

[I.R Joey]

I know that it has to do with the fact that you keep a shield around yourself to prevent people from getting close to you, yet wanting them to come close to you. The Eva's use something called an AT field which I suppouse has to do with this concept. Shinji is scarred and introverted because of all the screwed up things that happened to him (his Dad abandoning him, his mothers death), Rei with her dead pan emotionless feelings remains isolated from people. Auska seems to lash out at anyone who even tries to get close to her, yet it's apparent that she does kind of like to have people close to her. Misato freaked when she felt she was becoming to close to Kaji, and feared that he would be just like her father, running away from their relationship even though she still cared for him, etc.

Well back on topic, does anyone know anything about the concept of AT relating to psychology.

[DR. BELCH]

Well, there isn't really a disorder involved here, unless it's taken to the extreme. Some people just like to be in shells--I'm one--hat it takes a very special person to breach, often one of a like mind. Now in extreme cases a person may become agoraphobic or manifest a social disorder, characterized by paranoia and aggression...and some even exhibit disassociative disorders (multiple personalities, usu. as a result of early trauma/repressed memory).
Loss is a recurrent theme in anime, from what I've seen. particularly of parents--every one I can think of has a character--often a girl--whose mother has died/abandoned her. But then, loss is life.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Well, you DO know that "Absolute Terror" is an Eva term, and isn't necessarily a psychology term, I hope...

But anyway, there really isn't anything more to the AT field than what you've posted. It's basically a psyhological/soul shield, an "essence", if you will. At least according to Kaworu.

[oranthal]

i don't know about this buy i have question regarding episode 24. when kaworu opened the door to where Lilith was, Rei was standing on top somewhere and she generated a huge ATF that rivaled kaworu. how did she do that?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I got the impression that she somehow psychologically bonded with the second-last Angel. One of her many bodies got blown up, and the Angel was destroyed, but I had a feeling something happened when they conversed...

[I.R Joey]

Well can anyone at all tell me about the specifics behind this behavior of Absolute terror?

[Lachesis]

I think it was heavily implied that Rei was at least partially an angel. That's why Kaworu said they were the same.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by I.R Joey
Well can anyone at all tell me about the specifics behind this behavior of Absolute terror?

It's just a name for an energy shield. You're getting too into it.

[I.R Joey]

http://www2.arune.com:1080/eva/words.html

See look under AT field it has something there that states that it does refer to a psychological thing.

[oranthal]

if rei is part angel and part human and kaworu and her are the same, that means that kaworu has some "human" DNA in him which would mean that he is also connected to Lilith because humans came from Lilith hence the word "Lilim."

Originally posted by Lachesis
I think it was heavily implied that Rei was at least partially an angel. That's why Kaworu said they were the same.