ego defense mechanisms

Compensation

Overachievement in one area to offset real or perceived deficiencies in another area

Compensation Example

Napoleon complex: diminutive man becoming emperor

Compensation Example

Nurse with low self-esteem working double shifts so her supervisor will like her

Conversion

Expression of an emotional conflict through the development of a physical symptom, usually sensorimotor in nature

Conversion Example

Teenager forbidden to see X-rated movies is tempted to do so by friends and develops blindness, and the teenager is unconcerned about the loss of sight

Denial

Failure to acknowledge an unbearable condition; failure to admit the reality of a situation or how one enables the problem to continue

Denial Example

Diabetic person eating chocolate candy

Denial Example

Spending money freely when broke

Denial Example

Waiting 3 days to seek help for severe abdominal pain

Displacement

Ventilation of intense feelings toward persons less threatening than the one who aroused those feelings

Displacement Example

Person who is mad at the boss yells at his or her spouse

Displacement Example

Child who is harassed by a bully at school mistreats a younger sibling

Dissociation

Dealing with emotional conflict by a temporary alteration in consciousness or identity

Dissociation Example

Amnesia that prevents recall of yesterday's auto accident

Dissociation Example

Adult remembers nothing of childhood sexual abuse

Fixation

Immobilization of a portion of the personality resulting from unsuccessful completion of tasks in a developmental stage

Fixation Example

Never learning to delay gratification

Fixation Example

Lack of a clear sense of identity as an adult

Identification

Modeling actions and opinions of influential others while searching for identity, or aspiring to reach a personal, social, or occupational goal

Identification Example

Nursing student becoming a critical care nurse because this is the specialty of an instructor she admires

Intellectualization

Separation of the emotions of a painful event or situation from the facts involved; acknowledging the facts but not the emotions

Intellectualization Example

Person shows no emotional expression when discussing serious car accident

Introjection

Accepting another person's attitudes, beliefs, and values as one's own

Introjection Example

Person who dislikes guns becomes an avid hunter, just like a best friend

Projection

Unconscious blaming of unacceptable inclinations or thoughts on an external object

Projection Example

Man who has thought about same-gender sexual relationship, but never had one, beats a man who is gay

Projection Example

Person with many prejudices loudly identifies others as bigots

Rationalization

Excusing own behavior to avoid guilt, responsibility, conflict, anxiety, or loss of self-respect

Rationalization Example

Student blames failure on teacher being mean

Rationalization Example

Man says he beats his wife because she doesn't listen to him

Reaction Formation

Acting the opposite of what one thinks or feels

Reaction Formation Example

Woman who never wanted to have children becomes a supermom

Reaction Formation Example

Person who despises the boss tells everyone what a great boss she is

Regression

Moving back to a previous developmental stage to feel safe or have needs met

Regression Example

A 5-year-old asks for a bottle when new baby brother is being fed

Regression Example

Man pouts like a 4-year-old if he is not the center of his girlfriend's attention

Repression

Excluding emotionally painful or anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness

Repression Example

Woman has no memory of the mugging she suffered yesterday

Repression Example

Woman has no memory before age 7, when she was removed from abusive parents

Resistance

Overt or covert antagonism toward remembering or processing anxiety-producing information

Resistance Example

Nurse is too busy with tasks to spend time talking to a dying patient

Resistance Example

Person attends court-ordered treatment for alcoholism but refuses to participate

Sublimation

Substituting a socially acceptable activity for an impulse that is unacceptable

Sublimation Example

Person who has quit smoking sucks on hard candy when the urge to smoke arises

Sublimation Example

Person goes for a 15-minute walk when tempted to eat junk food

Substitution

Replacing the desired gratification with one that is more readily available

Substitution Example

Woman who would like to have her own children opens a day care center

Suppression

Conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness

Suppression Example

Student decides not to think about a parent's illness to study for a test

Suppression Example

Woman tells a friend she cannot think about her son's death right now

Undoing

Exhibiting acceptable behavior to make up for or negate unacceptable behavior

Undoing Example

Person who cheats on a spouse brings the spouse a bouquet of roses

Undoing Example

Man who is ruthless in business donates large amounts of money to charity