Situations- Defense Mechanisms

Even a top baseball player will sometimes strike out on an easy pitch. When this happens, his next action may be to throw his bat or kick the water cooler with all his might.

Displacement

Soldiers exposed to traumatic experiences in concentration camps during wartime sometimes had amnesia and were unable to recall any part of their ordeal.

Repression

The mother of an unwanted child may feel guilty about not welcoming her child. As a result, she may try to prove her love by becoming overindulgent and overprotective of the child.

Reaction Formation

Mrs. Brown often accuses other women of talking too much and spreading rumors. It is rather obvious to those who know her that she is revealing her own inclinations in that area.

Projection

Paul, an aggressive child, had problems in elementary school, as he would frequently fight with other children. Paul found when he entered high school that he could channel this hostility into sports such as football and soccer.

Sublimation

The habitual drinker may insist that he really doesn't care much for the taste of alcohol but feels that he is obliged to drink with friends "just to be sociable."

Rationalization

Mrs. James can't understand why her husband has been so grumpy and irritable for the past week. It certainly isn't her fault that he didn't receive the anticipated promotion at the factory.

Displacement

Parents might be reassured to know that children who pull wings off flies and jab pins in the dog may eventually find their niche in the areas of dentistry or surgery.

Sublimation

Mike is always trying to impress his pals with how strong and independent he has become. However, when Mike has social or emotional problems, he still wants his dad to figure out the solution.

Regression

A student forgot that his dreaded final exam in geometry was scheduled for Friday. This seemed unusual as the date of the exam had been marked on his calendar for several weeks.

Repression

The majority group of a culture may blame all the various ills of a society on a small minority group. This is a process termed "scapegoating" and is a factor in racial and religious prejudice

Projection

The individual who actually likes to have others do things for him may be quick to criticize other people for being dependent and lazy

Projection

James Riley has suffered heavy financial losses recently while playing the stock market. Upon trading his big luxury car for an old small car Jim informed his associates that he bought the cheaper car to do his part in the battle against air pollution.

Rationalization

Tory is apt to become annoyed when he recalls his earlier conviction as a Peeping Tom. Tory has left his sordid past behind and now is a busy photographer for Playboy magazine.

Sublimation

The young wife, after a bitter conflict with her husband, gives up marriage as a failure and returns to the home of her parents. She again takes on the role of the dependent child who expects unlimited love and indulgence

Regression

The high school teacher was criticized by the teacher for having a disruptive class. When the teacher got home that night, he argued with his wife and kicked the dog

Displacement

Adults who were sexually molested during childhood often report that all the details of the painful episode have been forgotten

Repression

After John was rejected by the admissions office at Yale, he claimed that he wouldn't enjoy attending such a large school anyway. Besides he might receive higher grades at a smaller college

Rationalization

The women with a strong sexual drive may feel that most other women exhibit flirtatious behavior or wear revealing clothes

Projection

Mary has secretly disliked her mother since she was a young child. As these feelings arouse anxiety, Mary usually tells friends that she loves her mother very much.

Reaction Formation

Roger is a heavy drinker but has managed to keep this behavior a secret from his friends. He is sure that most people actually drink as much as he does.

Rationalization

One psychological theory holds that the desire for sexual gratification, if frustrated or blocked, may eventually find expression in painting or the writing of poetry.

Sublimation

A six year old child, who gave up bed wetting at the age of three, moves with his parents to a new neighborhood. During the stressful period of adjusting to his new home, he again wets the bed for several nights

Regression

The girl who was not invited to the school dance told her friends that she would not have attended if asked. She said that her teachers had assigned more homework than usual and that she was simply too busy for any unimportant social functions.

Rationalization

It is typical for the person who is most difficult to convince in an argument to say that everyone else is stubborn

Projection

When a new baby arrives in the family, the older child will sometimes cry more than usual and be more insistent about receiving caresses from the parents.

Regression

Billy always teases and annoys his younger brother after he himself is disciplined by his parents.

Displacement

Mr. Martin carried around a letter in his coat pocket for weeks. The note which he somehow neglected mailing was an invitation to his mother-in-law to visit the family for several months.

Repression

Verna suffered a mental breakdown and assumes the fetal position, rocking and crying

regression

Micheal was bullied at school today and kicked a hole in his wall when he got home

Displacement

Nicholas lost his track race and said, "I would have won the race but the track was wet."

rationalization

Yvette is attracted to a fellow worker but accuses him of sexual advances

projection

Toby is sure to take his teddy bear with him to college and puts it on his nightstand each night

regression

After getting in a fight with her husband yesterday, Tanya cooks his favorite meal for dinner

Undoing

Aisha has an obsessive need for control and order and starts up a successful business enterprise

sublimation

Fenecia is in a hurry and cut off another driver on the highway, then patiently waits a stop light for a car to pull in front of her because she feels bad about cutting someone off earlier

undoing

Tanya has been a smoker for more than 10 years, but concludes that the evidence linking cigarette use to health problems is bogus

denial

Phillipe was abused by a parent as a young child and still has no recollection of the events, but has trouble forming relationships.

repression

Giselle is angry with a colleague but actually ends up being particularly courteous and friendly towards her

reaction formation

Julio evades paying taxes and justifies it by talking about how the government wastes money

rationalization