Defense mechanisms

apathy

indifferernce; a lack of interest, feeling, concern, or emtion

compensation

a method of balancing a failure or inadequacy with an accomplishment

displacment

the redirection of emotions away from its original subject or object onto another less threatening subject or object

conversion

transformation of an anxiety into a physical symptom that has no cause

denial

avoidance of unpleasant or anxiety-provoking situations or ideas by rejecting them or ignoring their existence

Dissociation

a disconnection of emotional importance from ideas or events and compartmentalizing those emotions in different parts of awareness

intellectualization

analysis of a situation with facts and not emotions

identification

the attribution of characteristics of someone else to oneself or the imitation of another

introjection

adoption of the thoughts or feelings of others

physical avoidance

keeping away from any person, place, or object that evokes memories of something unpleasant

projection

the transference of a person's unpleasant ideas and emotions onto someone or something else

Rationalization

an explanation that makes something negative or unacceptable or acceptable

reaction formation

belief in and expression of the opposite of one's true feelings

regression

the reversion to an earlier, more childlike, developmental behavior

repression

the elimination of unpleasant emotions, desires, or problems from the conscious mind

sarcasm

the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny

Sublimation

rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive

Suppression

The voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one's awareness

Undoing

canceling out an unacceptable behavior with a symbolic gesture

verbal aggression

a verbal attack on a person without addressing the original intent of the conversation