defense mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms
These are in order from most PRIMITIVE to most MATURE
Name | Definition | Example | Why use it? |
Denial | -refusing to accept something -declaring something to be untrue (something that is actually true) | -Rebecca was in denial about her gambling addiction impacting her marriage -convincing yourself you don’t have an addiction | -brain may not be able to handle the truth...could cause shock -may not want to accept reality and its consequences |
Regression | -reverts to earlier stage of development because something traumatic happens | -upset person reacts by hitting like a child would -child whose parents are divorcing might revert to child like behaviour -upset adult lies in the fetal position -college student takes their favourite stuffed animal with them when they move out of their parents’ house | -because old coping methods from childhood were helpful |
Projection | -project your undesired attributes onto someone else | -accuse spouse of not listening when in fact you are the one who doesn’t listen | -we deny our undesired behaviours |
Reaction Formation | -exaggerate impulses | -in an awkward situation you might get really loud, etc. | -to get away from actually dealing with the emotions of the situation |
Repression | -don’t allow feelings to enter your consciousness | -abused child might not remember trauma until later in adulthood | -brain copes with something that happened |
Displacement | -transfer emotion about one situation onto a person that’s not involved (may be a more acceptable substitute) | -yell at somebody because of doing badly on an exam....not someone involved in the situation -angry at spouse but really upset about work | -don’t feel allowed or comfortable expressing the emotion to its actual target |
Intellectualization | -use reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict | -over thinking a situation.. ignoring emotions...think about trivial details -might not focus on feelings about medical diagnosis.. instead research and think about minor medical issues/ treatments | -block out pain and distance themselves from the event so it doesn’t seem overwhelming |
Rationalization | -logically justifies behaviours and feelings | -don’t tell someone the truth because it will hurt them more -making excuses | -we think we know ourselves better than we do |
Sublimation | -substitute an inappropriate action for an appropriate one | -substitute an inappropriate action for an appropriate one | -keeps us from behaving inappropriately |