Defense Mechanisms

 These are psychological strategies or techniques that are unconsciously used to protect ourselves from anxiety arising from unpleasant, unacceptable thoughts or feelings.

• We use defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety or guilt which arise because we feel threatened or because our id and superego becomes too demanding.

• While all defense mechanisms can be unhealthy, they can also be adaptive and allow us to function normally.

Defense Mechanisms

• Displacement: a mechanism by which the individual can satisfy an impulse by acting on a substitute object or person in a socially unacceptable way For example, a person who dislikes their teacher after being given low grades may feel that they would be punished if they express their hostility towards them. Therefore, they may unconsciously displace their antipathy onto their best Friedberg., releasing frustration directed toward your boss on your spouse instead.

• Denial: It blocks upsetting or overwhelming experiences from awareness, causing the individual to refuse to acknowledge or believe what is happening or it is the refusal to

accept reality or fact, acting as if a painful event, thought or feeling did not exist. For example, smokers do not accept the reality that smoking is bad for their health.

• Projection: Projection is a defense mechanism that involves taking our own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people or attempt to solve discomfort by attributing the individual’s unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives to another person. For example, if you have a strong dislike for someone, you might instead believe that he or she does not like you.

• A spouse may be angry at their significant other for not listening, when in fact it is the angry spouse who does not listen. Projection is often the result of a lack of insight and acknowledgement of one’s own motivations and feelings.

• Rationalization: is a defense mechanism that involves explaining an unacceptable behavior or feeling in a rational or logical manner, avoiding the true reasons for the behavior. For example, I did poorly on test because the questions were so tricky.

• Regression: a defense mechanism in which the individual moves backward in development in order to cope with stress. E.g., an overwhelmed adult acting like a child.

• For example, an adult may regress when under a great deal of stress, refusing to leave their bed and engage in normal, everyday activities.

• Repression: an unconscious mechanism in which the ego pushes disturbing or threatening thoughts out of consciousness. For example, a person who has repressed memories of abuse suffered as a child may later have difficulty forming relationships.

• Sublimation: This defense mechanism involves satisfying an impulse by acting on a substitute, but in a socially acceptable way. For example, Athletes may also use sublimation to concentrate their energy on productive activities such as training.E.g., when a student grieving a significant loss pours her energy into school and pulls straight A's.

• A person experiencing extreme anger might take up kickboxing as a means of venting frustration.

• Acting Out: In this type of defense, the individual copes with stress by engaging in actions rather than reflecting upon internal feelings. For example, a child’s temper tantrum is a form of acting out when he or she doesn’t get his or her way with a parent. Self-injury may also be a form of acting-out, expressing in physical pain what one cannot stand to feel emotionally.

• Compensation: Overachieving in one area to compensate for failures in another. For example, A young man feels that is a poor athlete and never get picked for teams during his physical education class. He overcompensates by becoming deeply engaged in other school activities including the drama club and the school newspaper.

Defense Mechanisms