positive

Compensation

Making up for a weakness by emphasizing strengths, such as a student weak in sports excelling in academics.

Substitution

Replacing an unattainable goal with a more achievable one, like choosing a different career after failing to enter medical school.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities, for example expressing anger through exercise or sports.

Repression

Unconsciously blocking painful thoughts or memories, such as not remembering a traumatic childhood event.

Undoing

Trying to cancel out an unacceptable behavior with a positive action, like buying gifts after saying something hurtful.

Identification

Adopting the traits of someone admired to cope, such as a nursing student copying the behavior of a respected mentor.

Transference

Redirecting feelings from one person to another, for example treating a nurse like a strict parent.

Intellectualization

Using logic and facts to avoid emotional stress, such as focusing on medical details instead of feelings after a diagnosis.

Introjection

Internalizing the beliefs or values of others, like a child adopting parents’ moral standards.