Defence Mechanisms

Question 1

What is - Unconsciously blocking unpleasant thoughts or memories from awareness?

Answer 1

Repression

Question 2

What is - Refusing to accept reality or facts to avoid dealing with painful emotions?

Answer 2

Denial

Question 3

What is - Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else?

Answer 3

Projection

Question 4

What is - Redirecting emotions from the original source to a safer target (e.g., taking out anger on a pet instead of a boss).

Answer 4

Displacement

Question 5

What is - Reverting to behaviors typical of an earlier stage of development during stressful times?

Answer 5

Regression

Question 6

What is - Justifying behaviors or feelings with logical but untrue explanations?

Answer 6

Rationalization

Question 7

What is - Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or constructive activities (e.g., expressing aggression through sports).

Answer 7

Sublimation

Question 8

What is - Behaving in a way that is opposite to one’s true feelings or desires?

Answer 8

Reaction Formation

Question 9

What is - Using logic and reasoning to block out emotional distress?

Answer 9

Intellectualization

Question 10

What is - Adopting the characteristics of someone perceived as stronger or more capable to deal with one’s own insecurities?

Answer 10

Identification

Question 11

What is - Overachieving in one area to make up for perceived deficiencies in another?

Answer 11

Compensation

Question 12

What is - Escaping into imagination to avoid reality or stressful situations?

Answer 12

Fantasy

Question 13

What is - Separating emotions from thoughts or events, detaching oneself emotionally?

Answer 13

Isolation (of Affect)

Question 14

What is - Attempting to “reverse” a thought or behavior by performing an action that symbolically cancels it out?

Answer 14

Undoing

Question 15

What is - Viewing people or situations in extremes (e.g., all good or all bad) without recognizing complexity?

Answer 15

Splitting

Question 16

What is - Consciously choosing to delay paying attention to an emotion or need, but not completely repressing it?

Answer 16

Suppression

Question 17

What is - Internalizing the beliefs or attitudes of others as one’s own?

Answer 17

Introjection

Question 18

What is Detaching from reality as a way to avoid distress (e.g., feeling numb or disconnected)?

Answer 18

Dissociation

Question 19

What is - Transforming emotional distress into physical symptoms?

Answer 19

Conversion

Question 20

What is - Expressing unconscious emotions or impulses through actions rather than words?

Answer 20

Acting Out

Question 21

What is the purpose of Defence Mechanisms?

Answer 21

These mechanisms are often unconscious and serve to protect the ego from anxiety or internal conflict, but over-reliance on them can interfere with personal growth and relationships.