6a. General Terms - Primitive Defense Mechanisms Flashcards

1
Q

Denial

A

refusal to accept reality or fact, acting as if a painful event, thought or event did not exist. Some theories holds that people suffering from paranoid personality disorder deny their own unacceptable thoughts or feelings and project these on others.

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2
Q

Regression

A

the reversion to an earlier stage of development.

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3
Q

Acting out

A

performing an extreme behavior in order to express thoughts or feelings the person is incapable of otherwise expressing. Defensive acting out is not synonymous with “bad behavior” because it requires evidence that the behavior is related to emotional conflicts.

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4
Q

Dissociation

A

when a person loses track of time or a person, and instead finds another representation of themselves to continue with the moment.

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5
Q

Compartmentalizing

A

a lesser form of dissociation, whereas part of oneself is separated from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had a separate set of values.

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6
Q

Projection

A

The misattribution of a person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person who does not have those thoughts, feelings, or impulses.

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7
Q

Reaction formation

A

converting of unwanted or dangerous thoughts, feelings or impulses into their opposite. For example, a woman who is very unhappy with her boss & job will become overly kind & generous and may express a desire to stay at the job forever. Reaction formation occurs when unacceptable thoughts or impulses are expressed by their opposites. It is an immature defense and usually causes problems for the individual since the underlying aggression is never addressed.

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8
Q

Repression

A

the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feelings or impulses. The key to repression is that people do it unconsciously.

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9
Q

Suppression

A

Involves voluntary setting aside of affect and memory, which can also be voluntarily retrieved. Sometimes we do this consciously by forcing the unwanted information out of our awareness, which is known as suppression. In most cases, however, this removal of anxiety-provoking memories from our awareness is believed to occur unconsciously. Dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by intentionally avoiding thinking about disturbing problems, wishes, feelings or experiences.

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10
Q

Displacement

A

is the redirecting of thoughts, feelings, or and impulses directed at one person or object, but taking it out on another person or object.

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11
Q

Intellectualizing

A

the overemphasis on thinking when confronted with an unacceptable impulse, situation or behavior without employing any emotions whatsoever to help mediate and place the thoughts into an emotional, human context. Rather than deal with the pain associated with the emotions, a person might employ intellectualism, to distance themselves from the impulse.

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12
Q

Rationalization

A

putting something into a different light or offering a different explanation for one’s perceptions or behaviors in the face of a changing reality. For instance, a woman who starts dating a man she really, really likes and thinks the world of is suddenly dumped by the man for no reason. She reframes the situation in her mind with, “I suspected he was a loser all along.”

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13
Q

Undoing

A

the attempt to take back an unconscious behavior or thought that is unacceptable or hurtful. For instance, after realizing you just insulted your significant other unintentionally, you might spend the next hour praising their beauty, charm and intellect. By “undoing” the previous action, the person is attempting to counteract the damage done by the original comment, hoping the two will balance one another out. Undoing is a secondary defense mechanism that surfaces when unacceptable or frightening thoughts or actions break free into consciousness. Undoing is performed to reverse the consequences that flow from the action.

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14
Q

Conversion

A

Conversion involves changing the affect into another symptom, such as a physical disorder or problem.

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15
Q

Sublimination

A

the channeling of unacceptable impulses, thoughts and emotions into more acceptable ones. For instance, when a person has sexual impulses they would like not to act upon, they may instead focus on rigorous exercise. Refocusing such unacceptable or harmful impulses into productive use helps a person channel energy that otherwise would be lost or used in a manner that might cause the person more anxiety.

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16
Q

Compensation

A

process of psychologically counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other arenas. By emphasizing and focusing on one’s strengths, a person is recognizing they cannot be strong at all things and in all areas in their lives. For instance, when a person says, “I may not know how to cook, but I can sure do the dishes!” they’re trying to compensate for their lack of cooking skills by emphasizing their cleaning skills instead. When done appropriately and not in an attempt to over-compensate, compensation is defense mechanism that helps reinforce a person’s self-esteem and self-image.

17
Q

Assertiveness

A

the emphasis of a person’s needs or thoughts in a manner that is respectful, direct and firm. Communication styles exist on a continuum, ranging from passive to aggressive, with assertiveness falling neatly in-between. People who are passive and communicate in a passive manner tend to be good listeners, but rarely speak up for themselves or their own needs in a relationship. People who are aggressive and communicate in an aggressive manner tend to be good leaders, but often at the expense of being able to listen empathetically to others and their ideas and needs. People who are assertive strike a balance where they speak up for themselves, express their opinions or needs in a respectful yet firm manner, and listen when they are being spoken to. Becoming more assertive is one of the most desired communication skills and helpful defense mechanisms most people want to learn, and would benefit in doing so

18
Q

Affiliation

A

This involves turning to other people for support.

19
Q

Aim Inhibition

A

In this type of defense, the individual accepts a modified form of their original goal (i.e. becoming a high school basketball coach rather than a professional athlete.)

20
Q

Altruism

A

Satisfying internal needs through helping others. Unlike the self-sacrifice sometimes characteristic of reaction formation, the individual receives gratification either vicariously or from the response of others.

21
Q

Compensation

A

Overachieving in one area to compensate for failures in another.

22
Q

Humor

A

Pointing out the funny or ironic aspects of a situation.

23
Q

Passive-aggression

A

Indirectly expressing anger. Passive aggressive behaviors are characterized by indirect expressions of aggression and a denial of those feelings in the self. This behavior creates problems for others. Drawing attention to oneself indicates a need for mirroring which is characteristic of narcissistic disorders. Ideas of reference, are an indication of a thought disorder and is usually associated with Schizoid disorder

24
Q

Isolation of affect

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by the separation of ideas from the feelings originally associated with them. The individual loses touch with the feelings associated with a given idea (e.g., traumatic event) while remaining aware of the cognitive elements of it (e.g., descriptive details)

25
Q

Devaluation

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by attributing exaggerated negative quality to self or others.

26
Q

Idealization

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by attributing exaggerated positive qualities to others.

27
Q

Omnipotence

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by feeling or acting as if he or she possesses special powers or abilities and is superior to others.

28
Q

Autistic Fantasy

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by excessive daydreaming as a substitute for human relationships, more effective action or problem solving

29
Q

Projective identification

A

as in projection, is dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by falsely attributing to another his or her own unacceptable feelings, impulses or thoughts. Unlike simple projection, the individual does not fully disavow what is projected. Instead, the individual remains aware of his or her own affects or impulses, but misattributed them as justifiable reactions to the other person. Not infrequently, the individual induces the very feelings in others that were first mistakenly believed to be there, making it difficult to clarify who did what to whom first.

30
Q

Splitting

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by compartmentalizing opposite affect states and failing to integrate the positive and negative qualities of the self or others into cohesive images. Because ambivalent affects cannot be experienced simultaneously, more balanced views and expectations of self or others are excluded from emotional awareness. Self and object images tend to alternate between polar opposites: exclusively loving, powerfully, worthy, nurturing, and kid – or exclusively bad, hateful, angry, destructive, rejecting or worthless

31
Q

Help rejecting complaining

A

dealing with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by complaining or making repetitive requests for help that disguise covert feelings of hostility or reproach toward others, which are then expressed by rejecting the suggestions, advice or help that others offer. The complaints or requests may involve physical or psychological symptoms or life problems.

32
Q

What are the three most sever defense mechanisms?

A
  • Delusional projection: holding on to beliefs even when evidence to the contrary is strong
  • Psychotic denial: where there is a complete split from reality based on interpretation of activities and events
  • Psychotic distortion: where the individual cannot see things as others see them and misinterprets much of what is happening to him or her.
33
Q

Delusional projection:

A

holding on to beliefs even when evidence to the contrary is strong

34
Q

Psychotic denial:

A

where there is a complete split from reality based on interpretation of activities and events

35
Q

Psychotic distortion:

A

where the individual cannot see things as others see them and misinterprets much of what is happening to him or her.