freud

Repression (Freudian Theory)

The ego's unconscious exclusion of anxiety-provoking content, thoughts, or impulses from awareness.

Projection (Freudian Theory)

A defense mechanism where an individual shifts responsibility for an unacceptable impulse onto another person or misattributes their own impulses to others.

Repression vs. Suppression

Repression is the unconscious exclusion of content, while suppression is the conscious avoidance of an upsetting thought.

Sublimation

The defense mechanism involving the conversion of unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or valued outlets/expressions.

Denial (Freudian Theory)

A defense mechanism that primarily distorts external reality to protect the ego from unpleasant truths, rather than just distorting internal impulses.