Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

An unconscious mechanism employed by the ego to keep disturbing or threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.

Answer 1

Repression

Question 2

This involves blocking external events from awareness. If some situation is just too much to handle, the person just refuses to experience it.

Answer 2

Denial

Question 3

This involves individuals attributing their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives to another person.

Answer 3

Projection

Question 4

This is satisfying an impulse (E.G., aggression) with a substitute object.

Answer 4

Displacement

Question 5

Resuming behaviors associated with an earlier developmental stage/level of functioning to avoid present anger, anxiety, etc.

Answer 5

Regression

Question 6

Satisfying an impulse (e.g., Aggression) with a substitute object in a socially acceptable way.

Answer 6

Sublimation

Question 7

This involves keeping certain impulses out of awareness by replacing the unwanted impulse with its opposite.

Answer 7

Reaction formation

Question 8

This involves the use of convincing reasons to justify certain ideas, feelings, or actions so as to avoid recognizing their true and unrelated “motive, which is unacceptable.

Answer 8

Rationalization

Question 9

This is a characteristic of borderline conditions and involves the keeping apart of two contradictory ego states such as Love and hate

Answer 9

Splitting

Question 10

This is when intolerable impulses or conflicts are converted into physical symptoms

Answer 10

Somatization

Question 11

This involves symbolically nullifying or voiding unacceptable provoking acts, thoughts, or feelings. Or nullifying an undesired impulse with an act of reparation.

Answer 11

Undoing

Question 12

Taking characteristics or emotions felt onto oneself to avoid conflict.
Or involves taking another person into the self, psychologically speaking, in order to avoid the direct expression of powerful emotions such as love or hate. 
This occurs when a person internalizes the ideas or voices of other people-often external authorities.

Answer 12

Introjection

Question 13

Avoiding emotions by talking about them rather than experiencing them directly

Answer 13

Intellectualization

Question 14

This is a general mechanism for the process of turning a feeling or attitude into its opposite

Answer 14

Reversal

Question 15

This involves obtaining satisfaction through self – sacrificing service to others or through participation and causes as a way of dealing with unacceptable feelings and conflicts

Answer 15

Altruism

Question 16

Consciously experiencing emotions when it is “safe” rather than when it was first unconsciously experienced

Answer 16

Isolation of affect

Question 17

The overvaluing of, for example, person, place, family, or activity beyond what is realistic to protect the individual from anxiety associated with aggressive or competitive feelings toward a loved or feared one

Answer 17

Idealization

Question 18

This tries to make up for what they perceive as deficits or deficiencies

Answer 18

Compensation

Question 19

This involves the moral renunciation of certain pleasures in order to avoid anxiety and conflict associated with impulse gratification

Answer 19

Asceticism

Question 20

Example, a person never stops ranting about the dangers of pornography. He gives endless examples of smut he has seen in movies and on television, and spends a lot of time hanging around porno houses to get even more examples.

Answer 20

Reaction Formation

Question 21

Example: during the Oedipus complex aggressive thoughts about the same sex parent are suppressed

Answer 21

Repression

Question 22

For example, smokers may refuse to admit to themselves that smoking is bad for their health.

Answer 22

Denial

Question 23

Example: you might hate someone, but your super ego tells you that such hatred is unacceptable. You can “solve” the problem by believing that they hate you.

Answer 23

Projection

Question 24

Example: someone who is frustrated by their boss at work may go home and kick the dog.

Answer 24

Displacement

Question 25

Example: a child may begin to suck their thumb again or wet the bed when they need to spend some time in the hospital

Answer 25

Regression

Question 26

Example: sports is an example of putting our emotions, like aggression, into something constructive.

Answer 26

Sublimation

Question 27

An example of this might be a dad telling his son “boys don’t cry” and the child internalizing that belief

Answer 27

Introjection