Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
apathy
indifference; lack of interest, feeling, concern, or emotion
compensation
a method of balancing a failure or inadequacy with an accomplishment
conversion
transformation of an anxiety into a physical symptom that has no cause
denial
avoidance of unpleasant or anxiety-provoking situations or ideas by rejecting them or ignoring their existence
displacement
the redirection of emotions away from its original subject or object onto another less threatening subject or object
dissociation
a disconnection of emotional importance from ideas or events and compartmentalizing those emotions in different parts of awareness
identification
the attribution of characteristics of someone else to oneself or the imitation of another
intellectualization
analysis of a situation with facts and not emotions
introjection
adoption of the thoughts or feelings of others
physical avoidance
keeping away from any person, place, or object that evokes memories of something unpleasant
projection
transferring unpleasant ideas and emotions onto someone or something else
rationalization
an explanation that makes something negative or unacceptable seem justifiable or acceptable
reaction formation
belief in and expression of the opposite of one’s true feelings
regression
the reversion to an earlier, more childlike, developmental behavior
repression
the elimination of unpleasant emotions, desires, or problems from the conscious mind
