Defense mechanisms Flashcards
Apathy
indifference; a lack of interest, feeling, concern or emotion
“I dont care what she puts in my evaluation, because I’m going to get a better job soon”
Compensation
a method of balancing a failure or inadequacy with an accomplishment
“I ate a lot of candy yesterdau but i also ate a salad”
Conversion
transformation of an anxiety into a physical symptom that has no cause
“I get a severe headache every time i see my ex with his new wife”
Denial
avoidance of unpleasant or anxiety-provoking situations or ideas by rejecting them or ignoring their existence
“I am healthy and fit. There is no way I have cancer so I don’t need all those tests”
Displacement
the redirection of emotions away from its orginal subject or object onto a another less threatening subject or object
“i had enough trouble handling that last patient. I dont need to deal with this malfunction copier right now”
Dissociation
a disconnection of emotional importance from ideas or events and compartmentalizing those emotions in different parts of awareness
“Im always getting into fights with my neighbors which is odd because i teach an online course in conflict resolution”
Dissociation
a disconnection of emotional importance from ideas or events and compartmentalizing those emotions in different parts of awareness
“Im always getting into fights with my neighbors which is odd because i teach an online course in conflict resolution”
Identification
the attribution of characteristics of someone else to oneself or the imitation of another
“i could pass that certification test just like she did and i havent even studied the material”
Intellectualization
analysis of a situation with facts and not emotions
“he didnt break up with me because he didnt love me. he just had too much on his plate at work at the time”
Introjection
adoption of thoughts or feelings og others
“my dad says that i should stand up for myself so i am going to be more assertive”
Physical avoidance
keeping away from any person, place, or object that evokes memories of something unpleasant
“i cant go to that hospital because thats where my father died”
Projection
the transference of a person’s unpleasant ideas and emotions onto someone or something else
“she leaves more charts incomplete than i do, so why am i getting this warning?”
Rationalization
belief in and expression of the opposite of one’s true feelings
“my partner drinks every night to make himself less anxious about work”
Regression
the reversion to an earlier, more childlike development behavior
“i cant do all that paperwork, and you cant make me”
Repression
the elimination of unpleasant emotions, desires, or problems from the conscious mind
“they tell me i was hurt in that robbery but i cant remember anything about it”
