Defense Mechanisms

refusal to accept the situation/reality

exaggerated reshaping of reality

expression of an unconscious impulse without the awareness that the emotion is driving the behavior

putting another person on a pedestal

aggression towards another expressed indirectly

shifting someone’s unacceptable thoughts onto another person or thing

transfer of negative feelings toward yourself in the form of self-harm, pain, or anxiety

redirecting intense emotions from its source to something or someone less threatening

use of academic type explanation to separate personal feelings from the painful or emotional event

separation emotionally or physically from the emotional trigger

when a person convinces themselves what they did was ok through distorted or incorrect reasoning

someone acts the opposite from how they feel

reversion to an earlier state of development

realistic planning for the future or future emotions

substituting one goal for another to feel successful

conscious decision to redirect an emotion into an activity or action

consciously pressing undesirable thoughts out of mind

to rearrange external experiences to eliminate the need to cope with reality

more common in adolescents, to lessen stress, frustration, and/or anxiety prompted by an uncomfortable reality

have short-term advantages, but in the long-term consequences may avail

adapted through experience in order to optimize success in life and relationships