Common Defense Mechanisms - Stress and Adaptation
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Compensation
A person attempts to overcome a perceived weakness by • emphasizing a more desirable trait • overachieving in a more comfortable area
Denial
A person refuses to acknowledge the presence of a condition that is disturbing
Displacement
A person transfers (displaces) an emotional reaction from one object or person to another object or person
Dissociation
A person subconsciously protects themself from the memories of a horrifc or painful event by allowing the mind to forget the incident.
Introjection
A person incorporates qualities or values of another person into their own ego structure. This mechanism is important in the formation of conscience during childhood.
Projection
A person attributes thoughts or impulses to someone else (seeing your own feelings in someone else and denying they are yours)
Rationalization
A person tries to give a logical or socially acceptable explanation for questionable behavior (‘behavior justifcation’).
Reaction Formation
A person develops conscious attitudes and behavior patterns that are opposite to what they would really like to do (someone acts in a way that’s completely opposite to what they actually feel or want)
Regression
A person returns to an earlier method of behaving.
Repression
A person voluntarily excludes an anxiety-producing event from conscious awareness
Sublimation
redirects their energy from an unacceptable goal to one that is socially acceptable
Undoing
A person uses an act or communication to negate a previous act or communication (when someone does something to try to take back or cancel out something they previously did or said)
A student who has difculty with academics may excel in sports.
Compensation
Despite fnding a lump in her breast, a woman does not seek medical treatment
Denial
An employee who is angry with a coworker kicks a chair.
Displacement
An adult cannot recall childhood memories surrounding the traumatic death of a sibling
Dissociation
An older sibling tells his preschool sister not to talk to strangers, expressing his parents’ values to his younger sister
Introjection
A person who denies any sexual feelings for a coworker accuses them of sexual harassment.
Projection
A patient who forgot to keep a health care appointment says, ‘If patients didn’t have to wait 3 months to get an appointment, they wouldn’t forget them.’
Rationalization
A married woman is attracted to her husband’s best friend but is constantly rude to him
Reaction Formation
Children may regress to soiling diapers or demanding a bottle when they are ill.
Regression
A father may not remember shaking his crying baby
Repression
A person who is aggressive toward others may become a star football player.
Sublimation
A husband who was physically abusive to his wife may bring her an expensive present the next day
Undoing