Defense Mechanisms

Denial

refusal to recognize reality

Displacement

shifting the feelings about one person or situation to an object or another person

Regression

acting less maturely than you normally would

Daydreaming

creating make believe events that seem more exciting than the real would

Compensation

covering up weaknesses by trying to excel in other areas

Repression

the painful thoughts or feelings that are pushed away from conscious thought

Sublimation

replacement of undesirable impulses with acceptable behavior

Rationalization

making excuses for a behavior

Projection

seeing your own faults or feelings in others even when they don’t have them

Idealization

admiring someone so much that you see them as perfect

Reaction Formation

acting in a way that is opposite to the way you would like to act

Negativism

always seeing the negative side of a situation