defense mechanisms Flashcards
Rationalization
justify behavior ; blaming an external force
Repression
To shove down feelings, thoughts, so they do not emerge, acknowledge, or act on.
displacement
placing your feelings on an external site:
you have a fight with your boss, you come home and yell at the kids.
Intellectualization
content is separate from repressed affect;
use of intellectualization- a trauma victim describes it as if reading a story.
researching an illness, to understand it vrs expressing own feelings and emotions.
Asceticism
defined by rigor and self-denial
if one refuses to eat or sleep until major work is done
abstinence from joy, pleasure
Reaction Formation
Unacceptable emotions/impulses are expressed as their opposites
It helps release anxiety and guilt associated with true impulse
an angry supervisor uses reaction formation by showering worker with praise and nicety instead of tru feelings of anger, resentment, ect.
introjection/ internalization
internalization of outside events or characteristics of other people.
a victim may identify with the aggressors behaviors to help protect them selves.
Projection
place your action/ feelings on to another
a person is cheating on spouse, but accuses the spouse of being unfaithful.
complains that no one likes me, when he really doesnt like himself.
denial
refusal to look at an issue, it does not exist
distorts reality, no acknowledge emotion.
Sublimation
will displace unacceptable instincts for construct
take a negative action, turn to positive- a person with anger response, starts a kick boxing class.
A person with major depression, may start a professional therapeutic dance activity
undoing
avoid being punished for undesirable thoughts/ action
a kid cleans their room after their parent argues with them on its clutter
a person is overly nice to a person she had just insulted in her min.
