Psych 1101: Defense Mechanisms

Repression

The ego pushes unacceptable impulses out of awareness, back into the unconscious mind; “Master defense mechanism”; Example: A young girl was sexually abused by her uncle. As an adult, she can’t remember anything about the traumatic experience.

Rationalization

The ego replaces a less acceptable motive with a more acceptable one. Example: A college student does not get into the fraternity of his choice. He tells himself that the fraternity is very exclusive and that a lot of students could not get in.

Displacement

The ego shifts feeling toward an unacceptable object to another, more acceptable object. Example: A woman can’t take her anger out on her boss, so she goes home and takes it out on her husband.

Sublimation

The ego replaces an unacceptable impulse with a socially acceptable one. Example: A man with strong sexual urges becomes an artist who paints nudes.

Projection

The ego attributes personal shortcomings, problems, and faults to others. Example: A man who has a strong desire to have an extramarital affair accuses his wife of flirting with other men.

Reaction to Formation

The ego transforms an unacceptable motive into its opposite. Example: A woman who fears her sexual urges becomes a religious zealot.

Denial

The ego refuses to acknowledge anxiety-producing realities. Example: A man won’t acknowledge that he has cancer even though a team of doctors as diagnosed his cancer.

Regression

The ego seeks the security of an earlier developmental period in the face of stress. Example: A woman returns home to her mother every time she has a big argument with her husband.