Commonly Occurring Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
Compensation
A person attempts to overcome a perceived weakness by emphasizing a more desirable trait or overachieving in a more comfortable area
Ex. A student who has difficulty with academics may excel in sports
Denial
A person refuses to acknowledge the presence of a condition that is disturbing
Ex. Despite finding a lump in her breast, a woman doesn’t seek medical treatment
Displacement
A person transfers (displaces) an emotional reaction from on object or person to another object or person
Ex. An employee who is angry with a coworker kicks a chair
Dissociation
A person subconsciously protects himself from the memories of a horrific or painful event by allowing the mind to forget the incident
Ex. An adult cannot recall childhood memories surrounding the traumatic death of a sibling
Introjection
A person incorporates qualities or values of another person into his own ego structure. This mechanism is important in the formation of conscience during childhood
Ex. An older sibling tells his preschool sister not to talk to strangers, expressing his parents’ values to his younger sister
Projection
A person attributes thoughts or impulses to someone else
Ex. A person who denies any sexual feelings for a coworker accuses him of sexual harassment
Rationalization
A person tries to give a logical or socially acceptable explanation for questionable behavior (behavior justification)
Ex. A patient who forgot to keep a health care appt says, “if patients didn’t have to wait 3 months to get an appointment, they wouldn’t forget them”
Reaction formation
A person develops conscious attitudes and behavior patterns that are opposite to what he or she would really like to do
Ex. A married woman is attracted to her husband’s best friend but is constantly rude to him
Regression
A person returns to an earlier method of behaving
Ex. Children often regress to soiling diapers or demanding a bottle when they are ill
Repression
A person voluntarily excludes an anxiety producing event from conscious awareness
Ex. A father may not remember shaking his crying baby
Sublimation
A person substitutes a socially acceptable goal for one whose normal channel of expression is blocked
Ex. A person who is aggressive toward others may become a star football player
Undoing
A person uses an act or communication to negate a previous act or communication
Ex. A husband who was physically abusive to his wife may bring her an expensive present the next day
