Unit 3 Defense Mechanisms Chapter 15 Flashcards
What is Altruism
Altruism is a largely unconscious motivation to feel caring and concern for others and act for the well-being of others.
Altruism Examples
Adaptive
A woman anonymously donates to her colleague’s GoFundMe campaign.
Maladaptive
A neighbor compulsively rescues cats and kittens to the detriment of the animals’ and his own health and safety.
What is Compensation
Compensation is used to counterbalance perceived deficiencies by emphasizing strengths.
Compensation Examples
Adaptive
A teenage boy focuses on his football skills more than his math assignments
Maladaptive
A woman drinks alcohol when her self-esteem is low to temporarily ease her discomfort.
What is Conversion
is the unconscious transformation of anxiety into a physical symptom with no organic cause.
Conversion Examples
Adaptive
No example. Almost always a pathological defense.
Maladaptive
A man becomes blind after seeing his wife enter a hotel room with another man.
What is Denial
Denial involves escaping unpleasant, anxiety-causing thoughts, feelings, wishes, or needs by ignoring their existence or reality.
Denial Examples
Adaptive
A man reacts to the death of a loved one by saying, “No, I don’t believe you,” to initially protect himself from the overwhelming news.
Maladaptive
A woman whose husband died 3 years earlier still keeps his clothes in the closet and talks about him in the present tense.
What is Displacement
Displacement is the transference of emotions associ- ated with a particular person, object, or situation to another nonthreatening person, object, or situation
Displacement Examples
Adaptive
A child yells at his teddy bear after being picked on by the school bully.
Maladaptive
A child who is unable to acknowledge fear of his father becomes fearful of animals.
What is Dissassociation
Dissociation is a disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment that results in compartmentalizing uncomfortable or unpleasant aspects of oneself.
Dissassociation Examples
Adaptive
An art student is able to mentally separate herself from a noisy environment as she becomes absorbed in her work.
Maladaptive
As the result of an abusive childhood and the need to separate from its realities, a woman finds herself perpetually disconnected from reality.
What is Identification
Identification is attributing to oneself the characteristics of another person or group. This may be done consciously or unconsciously.
Identification Examples
Adaptive
An 8-year-old girl dresses up like her teacher and puts together a pretend classroom for her friends.
Maladaptive
A boy dresses and talks like a neighborhood drug dealer and starts his own “gang.”
What is Intellectualization
Intellectualization is a process in which events are analyzed based on remote, cold facts and without passion, rather than incorporating feeling and emotion into the processing.
Intellectualization Example
Adaptive
Despite having lost his farm to a tornado, a man analyzes his options and leads his child to safety.
Maladaptive
A man responds to the death of his wife by focusing on the details of day care and operating the household rather than processing the grief with his children.
What is Projection
Projection refers to the unconscious rejection of emotionally unacceptable features and attributing them to others.
Projection Examples
Adaptative
No example. This is considered an immature defense mechanism.
Maladaptive
A woman who has repressed an attraction toward other women refuses to socialize. She fears that another woman will come on to her.
What is Rationalization
Rationalization consists of justifying illogical or unrea- sonable ideas, actions, or feelings by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the teller and the listener.
Rationalization Examples
Adaptive
An employee says, “I didn’t get the raise because the boss doesn’t like me.”
Maladaptive
An employee says, “I didn’t get the raise because the boss doesn’t like me.”
What is Reaction formation
Reaction formation is when unacceptable feelings or behaviors are controlled and kept out of awareness by developing the opposite emotion or behavior.
Reaction formation Examples
Adaptive
A recovering alcoholic constantly talks about the evils of drinking.
Maladaptive
A woman who has an unconscious hostility toward her daughter is overprotective and hovers over her to protect her from harm, interfering with her normal growth and development.
What is Regression
Regression is reverting to an earlier, more primitive and childlike pattern of behavior that may or may not have been exhibited previously.
Regression Examples
Adaptive
A 4-year-old boy with a new baby brother temporarily starts sucking his thumb and asking for a baby bottle.
Maladaptive
A man who loses a promotion starts complaining to others, hands in sloppy work, misses appoint- ments, and comes in late for meetings.
