Defense Mechanisms

What is the defense mechanism 'Projection'?

Attributing your unacceptable feelings or thoughts to someone else.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Attributing your unacceptable feelings or thoughts to someone else.'?

Projection

What is the defense mechanism 'Displacement'?

Redirecting emotions from a threatening target to a safer target.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Redirecting emotions from a threatening target to a safer target.'?

Displacement

What is the defense mechanism 'Sublimation'?

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors.'?

Sublimation

What is the defense mechanism 'Denial'?

Refusing to accept reality or facts.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Refusing to accept reality or facts.'?

Denial

What is the defense mechanism 'Regression'?

Returning to behaviors from an earlier developmental stage.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Returning to behaviors from an earlier developmental stage.'?

Regression

What is the defense mechanism 'Reaction Formation'?

Acting opposite to one's true feelings.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Acting opposite to one's true feelings.'?

Reaction Formation

What is the defense mechanism 'Rationalization'?

Creating logical explanations to justify behavior.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Creating logical explanations to justify behavior.'?

Rationalization

What is the defense mechanism 'Repression'?

Unconsciously blocking distressing thoughts or memories.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Unconsciously blocking distressing thoughts or memories.'?

Repression

What is the defense mechanism 'Suppression'?

Consciously choosing to avoid distressing thoughts.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Consciously choosing to avoid distressing thoughts.'?

Suppression

What is the defense mechanism 'Introjection'?

Internalizing the beliefs or values of another person.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Internalizing the beliefs or values of another person.'?

Introjection

What is the defense mechanism 'Identification'?

Modeling behavior after another person.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Modeling behavior after another person.'?

Identification

What is the defense mechanism 'Compensation'?

Overachieving in one area to make up for shortcomings in another.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Overachieving in one area to make up for shortcomings in another.'?

Compensation

What is the defense mechanism 'Undoing'?

Trying to reverse unacceptable thoughts or actions.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Trying to reverse unacceptable thoughts or actions.'?

Undoing

What is the defense mechanism 'Intellectualization'?

Focusing on logic and facts to avoid emotions.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Focusing on logic and facts to avoid emotions.'?

Intellectualization

What is the defense mechanism 'Isolation of Affect'?

Separating emotions from thoughts or events.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Separating emotions from thoughts or events.'?

Isolation of Affect

What is the defense mechanism 'Conversion'?

Psychological stress presenting as physical symptoms.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Psychological stress presenting as physical symptoms.'?

Conversion

What is the defense mechanism 'Splitting'?

Viewing people or situations as all good or all bad.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Viewing people or situations as all good or all bad.'?

Splitting

What is the defense mechanism 'Acting Out'?

Expressing emotions through actions rather than reflection.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Expressing emotions through actions rather than reflection.'?

Acting Out

What is the defense mechanism 'Passive Aggression'?

Indirectly expressing hostility.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Indirectly expressing hostility.'?

Passive Aggression

What is the defense mechanism 'Fantasy'?

Escaping reality through imagination.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Escaping reality through imagination.'?

Fantasy

What is the defense mechanism 'Identification with the Aggressor'?

Adopting traits of someone perceived as threatening.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Adopting traits of someone perceived as threatening.'?

Identification with the Aggressor

What is the defense mechanism 'Dissociation'?

Disconnecting from thoughts, identity, or surroundings.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Disconnecting from thoughts, identity, or surroundings.'?

Dissociation

What is the defense mechanism 'Devaluation'?

Attributing exaggerated negative qualities to self or others.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Attributing exaggerated negative qualities to self or others.'?

Devaluation

What is the defense mechanism 'Idealization'?

Attributing exaggerated positive qualities to self or others.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Attributing exaggerated positive qualities to self or others.'?

Idealization

What is the defense mechanism 'Projective Identification'?

Projecting feelings onto another person who then begins acting accordingly.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Projecting feelings onto another person who then begins acting accordingly.'?

Projective Identification

What is the defense mechanism 'Substitution'?

Replacing an unattainable goal with a more attainable one.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Replacing an unattainable goal with a more attainable one.'?

Substitution

What is the defense mechanism 'Compartmentalization'?

Separating conflicting thoughts into isolated categories.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Separating conflicting thoughts into isolated categories.'?

Compartmentalization

What is the defense mechanism 'Humor'?

Using comedy to express uncomfortable feelings.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Using comedy to express uncomfortable feelings.'?

Humor

What is the defense mechanism 'Altruism'?

Coping with stress by helping others.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Coping with stress by helping others.'?

Altruism

What is the defense mechanism 'Anticipation'?

Preparing emotionally for future stressors.

Which defense mechanism is defined as: 'Preparing emotionally for future stressors.'?

Anticipation

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A student angry at a professor goes home and yells at their sibling.

Displacement

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person who cheats accuses their partner of cheating.

Projection

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? Someone channels aggressive impulses into boxing.

Sublimation

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A child begins bedwetting after a new sibling is born.

Regression

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A smoker says, 'Everyone dies of something anyway.'

Rationalization

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person laughs while discussing a traumatic event.

Isolation of Affect

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person refuses to believe a loved one has died.

Denial

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A nurse worried about illness becomes overly focused on statistics rather than feelings.

Intellectualization

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person with hostile feelings behaves excessively friendly.

Reaction Formation

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A victim of abuse later becomes abusive toward others.

Identification with the Aggressor

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person develops paralysis after severe stress with no medical explanation.

Conversion

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A client alternates between seeing the therapist as perfect or terrible.

Splitting

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person forgets traumatic childhood memories.

Repression

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? Someone consciously avoids thinking about an upcoming exam until tomorrow.

Suppression

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person copes with grief by volunteering to help others.

Altruism

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A student daydreams about success instead of studying.

Fantasy

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A person buys gifts after cheating on their partner.

Undoing

What defense mechanism is demonstrated in this example? A bullied child begins bullying smaller children.

Identification with the Aggressor