Stages of Grief - Chapter 1

Adaptive Defense Mechanism

Helps an individual adjust and cope with stress in a healthy way.

Maladaptive Defense Mechanism

Prevents personal growth and interferes with emotional adjustment or problem-solving.

Apathy

Indifference; lack of concern or emotion. Example: “I don’t care what she puts in my evaluation—it won’t change anything.”

Compensation

Balancing a weakness with an achievement. Example: “I ate a lot of candy yesterday, but I also ate a big green salad.”

Conversion

Turning anxiety into a physical symptom. Example: “I get a severe headache every time I see my ex with his new wife.”

Denial

Refusing to accept reality. Example: “There’s no way I have cancer—I feel fine.”

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a less-threatening object. Example: “I had enough trouble handling that last patient; now this copier won’t work!”

Dissociation

Detaching emotions from thoughts or events. Example: “It’s odd—I teach conflict resolution, but I’m always fighting with my neighbors.”

Identification

Adopting traits or behaviors of someone else. Example: “If she passed the exam, I can too—even without studying.”

Intellectualization

Focusing on facts instead of feelings. Example: “He didn’t leave me because of love issues—he was just stressed at work.”

Introjection

Absorbing the ideas or beliefs of others. Example: “My dad says I should be assertive, so I’m going to start standing up for myself.”

Projection

Attributing one’s own faults to others. Example: “She forgets her charts more than I do, so why am I getting written up?”

Rationalization

Justifying unacceptable behavior. Example: “My partner drinks every night to relax after work.”

Reaction Formation

Acting opposite of true feelings. Example: “I hate the military, but I love signing people up for service.”

Regression

Reverting to childlike behavior. Example: “I can’t do this paperwork, and you can’t make me!”

Repression

Burying painful thoughts in the subconscious. Example: “They say I was robbed, but I don’t remember it at all.”

Sublimation

Channeling negative impulses into positive actions. Example: “I used to hurt bugs; now I’m a biology teacher.”

Suppression

Intentionally avoiding unpleasant thoughts. Example: “I’ll worry about the test results after vacation.”

Undoing

Making up for a mistake with a symbolic act. Example: “I yelled at my wife, so I’ll buy her flowers today.”

Verbal Aggression

Attacking someone verbally instead of addressing the issue. Example: “Why would you ask me that when you can’t even control your kids?”

Sarcasm

Using irony or mockery to mask emotions. Example: “Nice office—if you like working in caves.”