psychology definition

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What are defense mechanisms?

Unconscious Strategies that People Use to Protect Themselves from Unpleasant Emotions

How can a defense mechanism be harmful?

when they are used all the time instead of solving the real problem.

Define denial

Refusing to accept reality because it's too painful to face

Define repression

Pushing Distressing Memories or Thoughts out of Conscious Awareness

Define Projection

Placing your own unacceptable feelings or thoughts as someone else

Define displacement

Redirecting emotions from a dangerous source to a safer one

Define Rationalization

Creating logical explanations to justify unacceptable behavior or failure

Define a regression

Under stress, people may act younger than their age

Define reaction formation

behaving in a way that is opposite to one's true feelings

Define sublimation

Redirecting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable ones

Define identification

Adopting the characteristics or behavior of someone else often to feel more secure

Define compensation

Focusing on strengths in one area to make up for our weaknesses in another

What does psychology study?

Psychology is a science that studies mental life based on behavior and subjective experience. It's an empirical science relying on verified data