Types of defense mechanisms Flashcards
Putting forth extra effort to achieve in areas where one has a real or imagined deficiency
compensation
expression of emotional conflicts through physical symptoms
conversion
disowning/failure to acknowledge consciously intolerable thoughts and impulse
Ex) alcoholic says he has no drinking problem
denial
- redirection of emotions or feelings to a subject that is more acceptable or less threatening
- being mad at one person, but taking it out on someone else who is less threatening.
ex) yelling at a dog when angry with the boss
displacement
transferring your internal feelings, thoughts, and unacceptable ideas and traits to someone else.
ex) telling someone that you’re mad at that they don’t like you.
projection
an attempt to erase an unacceptable act, thought, feeling, or desire.
at an attempt to relieve guilt
ex) apologizing excessively; obsessive compulsive behavior.
Undoing
A less threatening object or idea is used to represent another.
ex) dreams, phobias
symbolization
replacing desired, impractical, or unobtainable object with one that is acceptable or attainable.
ex) marrying someone who looks like your previous significant other
substitution
A form of identification where there is a symbolic taking into oneself the characteristics of another.
Ex) when you blame yourself when you’re really mad at someone else.
introjection
unacceptable thoughts kept from awareness
when you block bad thoughts or memories to keep them from becoming conscious thoughts.
ex) you can’t remember a traumatic event
Repression (subconsciously)
expressing attitude directly opposite to what you really feel.
ex) being extra nice to someone you really don’t like
reaction formation
returning to an earlier developmental stage due to stress.
ex) bedwetting; baby talk
regression
detachment of painful emotional experience from consciousness;
blocking of an anxiety-provoking event or period of time from the conscious mind
ex) sleepwalking
dissociation
consciously putting a disturbing thought or incident out of awareness
ex) deciding not to deal with something unpleasant until the next day.
suppression (consciously)
replacement of an unacceptable need, attitude, or emotion with one or more socially acceptable ones.
sublimation
