Defense Mechanisms. Flashcards
a college student won’t eat or sleep until all his work is done.
asceticism
reaction formation
being nice when you really don’t like someone.
- doing the opposite of how/what you feel.
a man with a lot of aggressive energy becomes a professional rugby player
sublimation
a father who lost his job finds himself yelling at his kids more often
displacement
intellectualization
- content is separated from repressed affect.
- researching PTSD criteria instead of addressing it in therapy
a woman is unfaithful but accuses her husband of cheating on her
projection
characterized by rigor and self-denial
asceticism
ascesticism
- denying yourself something for the cause of something else
unacceptable feelings are expressed as their opposite
reaction formation
process by which we avoid being punished for undesirable thoughts or actions
undoing
refusing to let into awareness unacceptable thoughts, feelings, emotions.
repression
projection
- putting your thoughts/feelings onto someone else
distorting reality and not acknowledging emotions or events
denial
using plausible reasons to justify an action or opinion
rationalization
“I didn’t have time to go to the gym because I had to make dinner for my kids.”
rationalization
the “taking in” or “swallowing whole” a characteristic or traits of another person or outside event
introjection/internalization
identification
- when you identify with someone and pick up on their traits.
process by which qualities of an external object are absorbed into one’s personality
identification
sublimation
changing bad thoughts + behaviors into good social thoughts + behaviors
a woman recently diagnoses with depression focuses on learning about the symptoms of depression instead of expressing her feelings
intellectualization
denial
lack of acknowledgment
when affect is transferred from one object to another
displacement
“I’m going to stand up to the bully by being strong like my Dad”
introjection/internalization
displacement
- putting a problem onto someone or something else.
- different than projection
a teenager gets into a loud argument with his parents but then cleans up his room without being asked
undoing
repression
- refused to let into awareness unacceptable impulses but remains unconsciously operative in behavior
placing unacceptable impulses from one person to another
projection
process by which content is separated from repressed affect
intellectualization
“I’m afraid of snakes, but I’m not sure why.”
repression
a woman decides to become a psychologist because her mom is one
identification
a boy is interested in a girl but acts aloof and disinterested when around her.
reaction formation
displacing unacceptable instincts for constructive and socially acceptable behaviors
sublimation
rationalization
- plausible reasons justify an action or opinion
- helps the person cope with disappointments by blaming external circumstances.
- justifying something.
introjection/internalization
- internalization of outside events or characteristics of other people.
- victim may use it to identify with the aggressors’ behavior to help protect herself.
a man attends anger management classes but states that he doesn’t have a problem
denial
