CMA Common Defense Mechanisms

Apathy

indifference; lack of interest, feeling, concern or emotion

compensation

balancing a failure or inadequacy with an accomplishment

conversion

transformation of an anxiety into a physical symptom that has no cause

denial

Avoidance of unpleasant or anxiety-provoking situations or ideas by rejecting them or ignoring their existence

displacement

redirection of emotions away from the original subject or object into another, less-threatening subject or object

dissociation

disconnection of emotional importance from ideas or events and compartmentalizing those emotions in different parts of awareness

identification

attribution of characteristics of someone else to oneself or the imitation of another

intellectualization

analysis of a situation with facts and not emotions

introjection

adoption of the thoughts or feelings of others

physical avoidance

keeping away from any person, place or object that evokes memories of something unpleasant

projection

transference of a person’s unpleasant ideas and emotions onto someone or something else

rationalization

explanation that makes something negative or unacceptable seem justifiable or acceptable

reaction formation

belief in and expression of the opposite of ones true feelings

regression

reversion to an earlier, ore childlike, developmental behavior

repression

elimination of unpleasant emotions, desires or problems from the conscious mind

sarcasm

use of words that have the opposite meaning, especially to be funny, insulting or irritating

apathy example

“I don’t care what she puts in my evaluation, it won’t change anything”

compensation example

“ I ate a lot of candy yesterday, but I also ate a big green salad”

conversion example

“I get a severe headache every time I see my ex with his new wife”

Denial example

“ I am healthy and fit,. there is no way i have cancer, so I don’t need all those tests”

displacement example

“ I had enough trouble handling that last patient. I don’t need to dealth with this malfunctioning copier right now”

dissociation example

“ I’m always getting into fights with my neighbors, which is odd because I teach an online course in conflict resolution.”

identification example

“I could pass that certification test just like she did, and I haven’t even studied the material”

intellectualization example

“He didn’t break up with me because he didn’t love me. He just had too much on his plate at work at the time”

introjection example

“ my dad says I should stand up for myself, so I am going to be more assertive”

physical avoidance example

“ I can’t go to that hospital because that’s where my father died”

projection example

“ she leaves more charts incomplete that I do, so why am I getting this warning?”

rationalization example

“ my partner dirnks every night to make himself less anxious about work”

reaction formation example

“ I really hate being in the military, but I always sign some poeple u at the recruitment events”

regression example

“I can’t do all that ppaerowrk, and you can’t make me”

repression example

“they tell me I was hurt in that robbery, but I can’t remember anything about it”

sarcasm example

“ You have a nice office if you like working in caves”