Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

Repression

Answer 1

Traumatic events and undesirable thoughts are buried in the unconscious

Question 2

Altruism

Answer 2

Altruism refers to behavior that benefits another individual at a cost to oneself.

For example, giving your lunch away is altruistic because it helps someone who is hungry, but at a cost of being hungry yourself.

Question 3

Humor

Answer 3

Uncomfortable feelings are expressed in a humorous method

Question 4

Sublimation

Answer 4

A mature type of defense mechanism, in which socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior.

Example: a person hits a punching bag to discharge anger.

Question 5

Suppression

Answer 5

Unacceptable feelings are not dealt with

Question 6

Acting Out

Answer 6

Performing an extreme behavior in order to express thoughts or feelings the person feels incapable of otherwise expressing.

For example, instead of saying, “I’m angry with you,” a person who acts out may instead throw a book at the person, or punch a hole through a wall.

Question 7

Splitting

Answer 7

A psychological mechanism that allows the person to tolerate difficult and overwhelming emotions by seeing someone as either good or bad, idealized or devalued.

Some might say that a person who splits sees the world in terms of black or white — all or nothing

Question 8

Regression

Answer 8

Individual returns to an earlier developmental stage as a defense mechanism

Question 9

Denial

Answer 9

Refusing to accept reality

Question 10

Rationalization

Answer 10

Converting an unacceptable outcome into a reasonable explanation

Question 11

Reaction Formation

Answer 11

A defense mechanism in which people express the opposite of their true feelings, sometimes to an exaggerated extent.

For example, a man who feels insecure about his masculinity might act overly aggressive. A woman with substance use disorder may extol the virtues of abstinence.

Question 12

Projection

Answer 12

Attributing unacceptable feelings to others

Question 13

Displacement

Answer 13

Transferring one’s emotional burden or emotional reaction from one entity to another.

Example: someone who has a stressful day at work and then lashes out against their family at home.

Question 14

Identification

Answer 14

The process whereby an individual becomes like another person in one or several respects. This is a more elaborate process than introjection.

Question 15

Intellectualization

Answer 15

Thinking rather than feeling

Question 16

Dissociation

Answer 16

Removing one’s self from emotions

Question 17

Undoing

Answer 17

Undoing is a defense mechanism in which a person tries to cancel out or remove an unhealthy, destructive or otherwise threatening thought or action by engaging in contrary behavior.

For example, after thinking about being violent with someone, one would then be overly nice or accommodating to them.

Question 18

Depersonalization

Answer 18

Feelings of detachment from self

Question 19

Derealization

Answer 19

Feelings of unreality

Question 20

Compensation

Answer 20

Refers to a type of defense mechanism in which people overachieve in one area to compensate for failures in another.

For example, individuals with poor family lives may direct their energy into excelling above and beyond what is required at work.

Question 21

Conversion

Answer 21

The development of physical symptoms that cannot be explained by pathophysiology or physical injury.

This defense mechanism is recognized in conversion disorder, also known as functional neurologic symptom disorder.

Question 22

Association

Answer 22

Obtaining gratification through association with and helping another person who is gratifying the same instincts.

Question 23

Introjection

Answer 23

Introjection, one of many defense mechanisms posited by Sigmund Freud, occurs when a person internalizes the ideas or voices of other people. This behavior is commonly associated with the internalization of external authority, particularly that of parents.

Question 24

Inversion

Answer 24

Refocusing of aggression or emotions evoked from an external force onto one’s self.

Opposite of displacement.

This is operative especially in depression and masochism.

Question 25

Isolation of affect

Answer 25

Avoiding the experience of an emotion associated with a person, idea, or situation.

Intellectualizing

This defense mechanism may be present in someone who describes the day their house burnt down in a factual way without displaying any emotion.

Question 26

Reversal

Answer 26

This defense mechanism involves a switch from one behavior to its opposite.

For example, when masochism is replaced by sadism.

Question 27

Substitution

Answer 27

The substitution of one emotion for another. For example, rage used to mask fear.

Question 28

Identification with the aggressor

Answer 28

Involves the victim adopting the behavior of a person who is more powerful and hostile toward them.

For example, a child who is bullied is able to transform himself from the person threatened to the person who makes the threat.