Psychoanalytic concepts

Defense mechanisms

Defense mechanisms

Used by ego as a way to deal with conflict of problems in life. Defense mechanisms help to reduce negative feelings (eg anxiety and guilt) common defense include repression, denial and projection

Denial

An individuals refusal to accept certain or confront (or all) aspects of a given reality in order to avoid potential feels of discomfort

Dream

A mental event that consists of hallucinations involving image try and emotions

ego

The function of the ego can be described as running interference between the id and the superego. It mediates between the drives of the id and the need for self preservation

Fantasy

Loosely refers to an imagined situation that expresses certain desires or aims of the imagining individual. It can occur as the conscious level also known as a day or unconsciously sometimes referred to as phantasy

Fixation

A state where a person becomes attached to or overly invest in another individual or object

Id

The part of the mind that contains one’s most basic and instinctive drives. It is governed by aggressive desires and pleasure seeking. The contents of the id are entirely conscious.

Repression

A defensive process where an individuals impulses and instinctual desires are blocked from entering one’s conscious

Resistance

Refers to a patients unconscious opposition to the unveiling and exploitation of painful memories. It is often conveyed through mental process, fantasies, memories, character defensivas and behaviors

Superego

The part of the mind that acts as the conscience. Its function is to stop or punching behavior that is unacceptable according the ego ideal, the standards, values and images of perfection that begin to develop in childhood

Transference

The projection onto another person of feelings, past associations or experience

Unconscious

The part of the mind that stores feelings thoughts and urges unaware to the individual. These mental contents and processes influence the conscious experience even though we are unaware of their existence