Defense Mechanisms

Rationalization

Plausible reasons justifying an action/opinion

Repression

Refusing unacceptable impulses into conscious awareness

Denial

Distorting reality; acting like nothing happened

Projection

Attributing your unacceptable feelings onto another

Projective Identification

Target adopts and acts out projected feelings

Displacement

Transferring affect from one object/person to another

Intellectualization

Separating thought content from emotional affect

Asceticism

Characterized by extreme rigor and self-denial

Sublimation

Redirecting unacceptable impulses into constructive/socially acceptable outlets

Introjection/Internalization

“Swallowing whole” another’s traits or ideas

Identification

Absorbing external qualities into your personality over time

Reaction Formation

Expressing unacceptable impulses as their exact opposite

Undoing

Action performed to avoid punishment or cancel out bad thoughts

Repression

Unexplained fear/phobia (“not sure why”)

Intellectualization

Researching illness facts instead of expressing emotions

Introjection/Internalization

“Being strong like my Dad” (taking in outside trait)

Sublimation

Aggressive impulses channeled into professional sports/career