Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
process by which plausible reasons justify an action or opinion. Helps the person cope with disappointments by blaming external circumstances.
Ex - “that person is really snobby” when rejected
“I’ll be better off at a different company” when turned down
Rationalization
refuses to let into awareness unacceptable impulses but remains unconsciously operative in behavior.
ex - phobia of dogs but cannot remember the first time he was afraid of them.
Repression
distorts reality and does not acknowledge emotion.
ex - attend recovery program but continue to drink
Denial
process by which we avoid being punished for undesirable thoughts or actions.
ex - overly nice to someone you just insulted.
buying flowers to cover adulterous acts
Undoing
process by which unacceptable impulses are expressed as their opposites.
ex - angry employee is overly nice to boss
Reaction Formation
displace unacceptable instincts for constructive and socially acceptable behaviors.
ex - a person with aggressive impulses becomes kickboxing instructor
Sublimation
qualities of an external object are absorbed into one’s personality.
ex - a young person decides to follow in father’s footsteps to become a lawyer
Identification
process by which content is separated from repressed affect.
ex - speaking of traumatic childhood as if reading a story
researching PTSD criteria instead of addressing pain in therapy
Intellectualization
places unacceptable feelings from the person feeling them onto another person.
Projection
internalization of outside events or characteristics of other people.
ex - a victim identifies with aggressors bx to help protect themself
putting on seatbelt before driving away
Introjection
affect is transferred from one object to another.
ex - yelling at spouse instead of expressing anger toward boss
eating lollipops after quitting smoking
Displacement
characterized by rigor and self-denial
ex - not sleeping until project is done.
Asceticism
