Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
Rationalization
Plausible reasons to justify an action or opinion; helps cope with disappointments by blaming external circumstances (ex: not getting a job, thinking “better off elsewhere”)
Repression
Refuses to let into awareness unacceptable impulses but remains unconsciously operative in behavior (ex: child has phobia of dogs but not able to recall first time being afraid)
Displacement
Affect is transferred from one object to another (ex: compulsively eating lollipops after having quit smoking)
Identification
Qualities of an external object are absorbed into one’s personality (ex: young person decides to follow parent’s footsteps and becomes a lawyer)
Intellectualization
Content is separated from repressed affect (ex: client talks of childhood trauma as if reading a script; victim of assault does research on PTSD criteria)
Asceticism
Rigor and self-denial (ex: refusing to eat/sleep until major work project is complete)
Reaction Formation
Unacceptable impulses are expressed as their opposite; helps release anxiety/guilt regarding true impulse (ex: an angry employee is overly nice to their boss)
Introjection/Internalization
Internalization of outside events or characteristics of other people (ex: victim identifies with aggressor’s behavior)
Projection
Places unacceptable feelings from the person feeling them to another person (ex: highly anxious worker complaining about another colleague’s anxiety)
Denial
Distorts reality and does not acknowledge emotion; uncommon in young children (ex: alcoholic attends recovery program but continues to drink)
Sublimation
Displace unacceptable instincts for constructive and socially acceptable behaviors (ex: person with aggressive impulses becomes kickboxing instructor)
Undoing
Avoid being punished for undesirable thoughts or actions (ex: spouse unconsciously undoes adulterous acts by buying partner gifts)
