Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
Reaction Formation
Acting opposite of true feelings - Helga from Hey Arnold
Sublimation
Replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy/acceptable behavior
Ex: Working out to relieve anger
Substitution
Expectation management
Ex: Unable to reach goal line, move goal line - wants A+ in class, unable to due to amount of work, new goal is B+
Displacement
Taking emotion out on someone else when they’re not the reason behind the emotion
Ex: Boss upset you, takes out on spouse
Projection
Accusation of what they’re thinking/feeling on someone else
Projective Identification
Person starts to identify with a projection placed on them
Introjection
Adopting other’s voice (beliefs, thoughts, views) as their own
Ex: calling child stupid, child internalizes
Repression
Unconsciously “pushes down/keeps from coming up” distressing/uncomfortable thoughts/feelings
Ex: Can’t remember trauma
Suppression
Refusing to acknowledge uncomfortable thoughts/feelings
Ex: changing the topic, ignoring, refusing to talk about, doesn’t want to remember, “out of sight, out of mind”
Compensation
One aspect of their life is seen as “weak/shortcoming” and thus will compensate (make up for it) in another area of their life
Ex: small boto, big truck
Decompensation
Breakdown in an individual’s defense mechanism, resulting in progressive loss of normal functioning or worsening of psychiatric symptoms
Ex: person with schizophrenia - decompensates when symptoms increase
Associated with BPD
Rationalization
Justifying something. Try and make sense of what happened with logic. Can be viewed as an excuse on why something played out the way it did.
Intellectualization
Using logic and reason to avoid uncomfortable emotions. Gain/learn info to change focus on “what needs to be done” instead of facing what is happening.
Identifying with Aggressor
Person manages uncomfortable emotions by being/acting like aggressor to feel powerful
Ex: bullied person bully’s others
Conversion
Uncomfortable emotion converts into physiological symptoms (numbness, paralyzed, tremors)
Ex: Speaking in public = anxiety = sweating, increased heart rate
Identification
Identify with someone else and acts like that person - mimics/copies patterns/behavior
Undoing
“Undo/make right/make up for” undesirable thoughts/behaviors
Ex: cheating spouse buys jewelry for faithful spouse so feelings aren’t weighing heavy
Ascetism
Rigor and self denial. Someone who engages in extreme self-discipline and refuses to engage in anything pleasurable/enjoyable.
Ex: cannot enjoy fun activity until work is completed.
Splitting
Black and white, no gray. “All good” or “all bad.”
Associated with BPD.
Regression
Opposite of progress, move backwards.
Ex: Do an old behavior
Isolation of Affect
Recalling an event, isolating (separating) their affect (feeling/emotion/mood) from situation
Ex: Talking about big trauma and call recall with no big feelings
Idealization
Exaggerate/overestimates positive attributes, minimizes imperfections/shortcomings of a person, place, thing, situation
Ex: sports fans hope for team “we’re going to win this year, just need to do X, Y, Z.”
Associated with BPD
Devaluation
Devalue something or themselves, characterizing them/others/objects as completely worthless, flawed or exaggerate negative qualities
Associated with BPD
Symbolization
Using one thing as a symbol to represent another thing
Ex: soldier wanting to “defend the flag” as a symbol to join the military
Turning against Self
Someone becomes their own substitute target, normally negative (hatred, anger, aggression)
Freudian explanation for many of our feelings of inferiority, guilt, depression
Ex: my spouse cheated, it’s my fault
Incorporation
Person starts to incorporate (take on) characteristics of another person or parts of another person for themselves
Ex: walk, talk, mannerisms
Inhibition
Loss of motivation to do something (usually pleasurable) because it will most likely result in other consequences. Protective factor.
Ex: Inhibit desire to hit someone in heated argument
Disassociation
When individual disassociates or disconnects from themselves and their own thoughts/feelings/memories/sense of identity. Often happens in traumatic event.
