Defense mechanisms

Compensation

Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a desirable trait

denial

Refusal to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it

Displacement

Transferring a feelings from one target to another that is less threatening or neutral

Identification

An attempt to increase self worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of a person that one admires

Intellectualization

And attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with a stressful situation by using logic reasoning and analysis

Rationalization

Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors

Reaction formation

Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors

Regression

retreating in response to stress to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning

Repression

Involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness

Sublimation

Re-channeling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive

Interjection

integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s on ego structure

Suppression

The voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings or experiences from one’s awareness

Isolation

Separating a thought or memory from the feeling tone or emotion associated with it

Undoing

Symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that won finds intolerable

projection

Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person

A physically disabled boy is unable to participate in football, so he becomes a great scholar

Compensation ex

a patient tells a rehab nurse that he drinks because it is the only way he can cope with his bad marriage and job

Rationalization ex

a woman drinks alcohol every day and can’t stop and doesn’t acknowledge that she has a problem

Denial ex

a student only attended nursing school to please her parents and hated it. During career day, she talks to prospective nursing students about how amazing the career is.

Reaction formation ex

patient is angry with doctor but doesn’t express it. then is verbally abusive to the nurse. OR a person gets mad at work and comes home and kicks the dog

Displacement ex

a 2-year-old is hospitalized, and he will only drink from a bottle even though his mom says he has been drinking from a cup for 6 months.

Regression ex

A teen needs a lot of rehab after an accident and has a great PT decides to become a PT as a result

Identification ex

a trauma victim can’t remember anything about the event

Repression ex

a woman’s husband is being transferred to a new city (far away) for work. She hides her anxiety and discusses the advantages of the move.

Intellectualization ex

a mom whose son was killed by a drunk driver channels her energy into being the president of the mothers against drunk driving club.

Sublimation ex

a child integrates their parent’s value system into their own conscience formation. Like “don’t cheat.it’s wrong”.

Introjection ex

I don’t want to think about this now. I’ll think about it later.

Supression ex

a young woman describes being attacked and raped without showing any emotion

Isolation ex

a man is nervous about his new job and yells at his wife. He stops to buy her flowers on the way home

Undoing ex

A man addicted to alcohol blames his wife for his drinking

Projection ex