Defence mechanism

Defense mechanisms are a way for the mind to cope with stress or difficult feelings. They are unconscious mechanisms, which means that a person uses them without realizing it. Defense mechanisms can be positive ways to deal with stress. Other times, they can be unhelpful ways to avoid difficult emotions or excuse unhealthy or antisocial behavior. Recognizing defense mechanisms can help a person understand their own behavior. Below, we explore eight defense mechanisms. We also describe mental health conditions that may be associated with the routine use of certain mechanisms. Share on Pinterest A person’s mind may resort to defense mechanisms to deal with stress. The psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud developed the idea of defense mechanisms as a way to understand human behavior. Freud proposed that people use defense mechanisms unconsciously, as a way to avoid uncomfortable feelings and emotions. Below are some frequently used defense mechanisms: 1. Denial This involves a person not recognizing the reality of a stressful situation in order to protect themselves from overwhelming fear or anxiety. Denial can be helpful in situations that are beyond a person’s control. For example, staying optimistic can benefit a person as they try to overcome a serious illness. On the other hand, denial can stop a person from dealing with situations that require their attention. For example, it may be easier to ignore the negative effects of excessive drinking than it is to cut down on alcohol. 2....

Defense mechanisms are Defense mechanisms aren’t inherently bad—they can allow people to navigate painful experiences or channel their energy more productively. They become problematic, however, when applied too frequently or for too long. The concept arose from the work of Sigmund Schools of therapy other than Freud's Attributing one’s unacceptable feelings or desires to someone else. For example, if a . Refusing to Blocking difficult thoughts from Reverting to the behavior or emotions of an Justifying a mistake or problematic feeling with seemingly Redirecting an emotional reaction from the rightful recipient Behaving or expressing the Channeling Focusing on the Separating components of one’s life Defense mechanisms are rooted in Freud’s theory of Anxiety, in this paradigm, emerges when the needs of the id clash with the needs of the superego. To mitigate the tension, the ego deploys strategies of Many of Freud’s ideas have not stood up to modern scientific scrutiny. But psychological defenses have proven to be an enduring concept, one that researchers and clinicians continue to explore today. Close relationships often arouse our deepest emotions, and sometimes • Projection: Do you blame your partner for your own flaws? Rather than admit it, do you accuse your partner of being messy or careless? • Denial: Do you pretend that negative experiences haven’t occurred? Do you close your eyes and think that everything is going to be fine, even when your partner seems upset? • C...

• Denial: Not admitting to or not accepting the reality of a painful situation • Displacement: Shifting negative urges or emotions to a safer or neutral substitute object or person • Repression: Something that a person was once aware of is removed from conscious awareness, moving to the unconscious part of the mind ("forgetting" the stressful event or thoughts) • Projection: The extension, shifting, or attributing of a person's own feelings or thoughts about themselves onto another person • Sublimation: Shifting, diverting, or deflecting undesirable feelings or thoughts, or unattainable impulses toward something more goal-oriented or socially acceptable • Regression: • Rationalization: Replacing a real (but stressful) cause of behavior with an easier-to-handle excuse or explanation • Intellectualization: Using abstract, rational, and/or logical reasoning (often to excess) to distance from stress and avoid reacting or changing • Reaction formation: Denying or rejecting unacceptable, painful, or offensive traits or impulses by behaving in an opposite manner • Introjection: The opposite of projection, this entails incorporating external beliefs or traits (often from other people) into a person's sense of self and set of beliefs—the absorbed traits, behaviors, or qualities can be positive or negative • Suppression: Intentionally and consciously postponing or holding back a painful or undesirable thought, idea, or impulse • Splitting: • Distortion: Altering perception of realit...

Defense Mechanism Brief Description Example Displacement Taking feelings out on others Being angry at your boss but taking it out on your spouse instead Denial Denying that something exists Being the victim of a violent crime, yet denying that the incident occurred Repression Unconsciously keeping unpleasant information from your conscious mind Being abused as a child but not remembering the abuse Suppression Consciously keeping unpleasant information from your conscious mind Being abused as a child but choosing to push it out of your mind Sublimation Converting unacceptable impulses into more acceptable outlets Being upset with your spouse but going for a walk instead of fighting Projection Assigning your own unacceptable feelings or qualities to others Feeling attracted to someone other than your spouse, then fearing that your spouse is cheating on you Intellectualization Thinking about stressful things in a clinical way Losing a close family member and staying busy with making the necessary arrangements instead of feeling sad Rationalization Justifying an unacceptable feeling or behavior with logic Being denied a loan for your dream house, then saying it's a good thing because the house was too big anyway Regression Reverting to earlier behaviors Hugging a teddy bear when you're stressed, like you did when you were a child Reaction Formation Replacing an unwanted impulse with its opposite Being sad about a recent breakup, but acting happy about it Denial can involve a f...

• العربية • Български • Català • Čeština • Dansk • Deutsch • Eesti • Ελληνικά • Español • فارسی • Français • 한국어 • Հայերեն • Hrvatski • Bahasa Indonesia • Íslenska • Italiano • עברית • Lietuvių • Magyar • Македонски • Nederlands • 日本語 • Norsk bokmål • Polski • Português • Русский • Shqip • Simple English • Slovenčina • Српски / srpski • Suomi • Svenska • தமிழ் • ไทย • Türkçe • Українська • Tiếng Việt • 中文 • v • t • e In defence mechanism ( defense mechanism), is an Defence mechanisms ( Abwehrmechanismen) are unconscious psychological processes employed to defend against feelings of anxiety and unacceptable impulses at the level of consciousness. According to this theory, healthy people normally use different defence mechanisms throughout life. A defence mechanism becomes Theories and classifications [ ] In the first definitive book on defence mechanisms, The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence (1936), Sigmund Freud posited that defence mechanisms work by distorting Anna Freud introduced the concept of signal anxiety; she stated that it was "not directly a conflicted instinctual tension but a signal occurring in the ego of an anticipated instinctual tension". Both Freuds studied defence mechanisms, but Anna spent more of her time and research on five main mechanisms: repression, regression, projection, reaction formation, and sublimation. All defence mechanisms are responses to anxiety and how the consciousness and unconscious manage the stress of a social situation. • Repres...

In the long run, avoidance may not be a sustainable solution and can compound a stressful situation. If it is safe and possible to do so, addressing and resolving a stressful situation directly can be more helpful. Using drugs or alcohol to circumvent dealing with your feelings or a difficult situation is also a form of avoidance. For instance, if you are going through a rough divorce, you might stay in denial about the fact that your partner is about to leave you until it happens. The problem with denial is that it stops you from dealing with a situation when you should. If you've just received shocking or life-changing news, denial can give you some time to come to terms with your new reality. However, if you remain in a state of denial, it could disrupt your life by keeping you disconnected from reality. Distortion Distortion is the misinterpretation of your environment to see what you want to see, the way you want to see it. Your unconscious brain may seek out data that supports your beliefs and ignores evidence against it to protect your ego so you can perceive yourself as right or good instead of having made a mistake. Delusions, like most defense mechanisms, show up in ways that range from adaptive to maladaptive. A person might have an adaptive delusion when they read and believe in horoscopes, picking out only what's true for them, and being amazed that they are so accurate—while ignoring or dismissing anything from the horoscope that does not resonate with them. ...

Defense mechanisms are behaviors that people use to separate themselves from unpleasant events, actions, or thoughts. The idea of defense mechanisms comes from psychoanalytic theory, a psychological perspective of personality that sees personality as the interaction between three components: id, ego, and super-ego. These psychological strategies may help people put distance between themselves and threats or unwanted feelings, such as First proposed by Sigmund Freud, this theory has evolved over time and contends that behaviors, like defense mechanisms, are not under a person’s conscious control. In fact, most people do them without realizing it. According to these theories, defense mechanisms are a natural part of psychological development. Identifying which type you, your loved ones, and even your co-workers use may help you in future conversations and encounters. Defense mechanisms are ways you react to situations that bring up negative emotions. According to Usually, you are unaware of the defense mechanism, though the behavior may appear odd to others around you. Many In the long term, mature defense mechanisms may not be particularly detrimental to your emotional or mental health. Using more mature mechanisms may help you face the anxieties and situations that might normally cause stress and emotional duress. Other defense mechanisms, however, are not as mature and helpful. Prolonged use of these defenses can lead to lingering problems. In fact, they may prevent you f...

Defense mechanisms are ways of thinking or acting, often unconsciously, that are meant to protect us from feeling anxiety. They can be helpful or harmful depending on the circumstances in which they are used and whether they are overused. We all use some form of defense mechanism during critical moments when stress is intense or self-esteem is threatened. What Is a Defense Mechanism? Defense mechanisms are behaviors that people use to separate themselves from unpleasant events, thoughts, or actions. To better understand defense mechanisms, it’s important to look at the work of Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna Freud. His model of personality is based on three aspects of our mind’s functioning: id, ego, and superego. The id is the most primitive part of personality and drives us to meet our needs or wants regardless of morality or realistic consequences. The superego guides us to act in ways that are morally or socially acceptable. The ego is the part that deals with reality, such as making decisions or choices about how to act. It is common for a conflict to develop between the desires of the id and the restrictions of the superego. The ego tries to mediate between the conflicting forces of the id and superego. When the ego cannot resolve the differences in a realistic way, a state of heightened anxiety results. The ego then uses one or another defense mechanism to reduce the anxiety to a more tolerable level. Primitive vs. Mature Defense Mechanisms Defense mechanism...