Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

Denial

Answer 1

refusal to acknowledge reality or facts, blocking out painful or anxiety-producing information

Question 2

Repression

Answer 2

unconsciously pushing unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or memories out of the conscious mind

Question 3

Suppression

Answer 3

consciously pushing unwanted thoughts, memories, or feelings out of the conscious mind

Question 4

Projection

Answer 4

attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or motives to another person

Question 5

Rationalization

Answer 5

offering logical explanations for behaviors or feelings that are actually driven by unconscious impulses or emotions

ex. a student who fails an exam might say, “the exam was unfair” instead of acknowledging a lack of preparation

Question 6

Displacement

Answer 6

redirecting emotions or impulses from the original target to a less threatening one

Question 7

Sublimation

Answer 7

channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors

ex. a person with aggressive tendencies may channel those feelings into sports or a competitive hobby

Question 8

Reaction Formation

Answer 8

converting unwanted or anxiety-provoking feelings into their opposite

ex. a person who is uncomfortable with their sexual feelings may become excessively prudish or critical of others’ sexual behavior

Question 9

Intellectualization

Answer 9

using reasoning or logic to avoid uncomfortable emotions by focusing on facts and details

ex. a person diagnosed with cancer may focus on the technical aspects of treatment father than addressing their fears or emotions

Question 10

Regression

Answer 10

reverting to behaviors typical of an earlier stage of development when faced with stress or conflict

Question 11

Compensation

Answer 11

overcompensating in one area to make up for perceived deficiencies in another

Question 12

Identification

Answer 12

adopting the characteristics of someone else, often someone admired or in a position of power

Question 13

Undoing

Answer 13

attempting to reverse or “undo” a thought or behavior that is unacceptable or anxiety-producing

ex. a person who has an angry outburst may later try to “undo” it by being overly kind or apologetic

Question 14

Altruism

Answer 14

helping others as a way to cope with personal problems or to offset negative feelings

Question 15

Splitting

Answer 15

viewing people, situations, or events in all-or-nothing terms, without integrating the complexities or contradictions of the situation or person

Question 16

Dissociation

Answer 16

a disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment that results in compartmentalizing uncomfortable or unpleasant aspects of oneself

Question 17

Conversion

Answer 17

the unconscious transformation of anxiety into a physical symptom with no organic cause