Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
What is a primary characteristic that must be present in order for something to be a defense mechanism?
It must be an unconscious thing.
What is “Projection?”
Associating the feeling of a person as if it is coming from someone else, i.e. a daughter misses her father but holds up a doll and says “doll is going to miss you dad.”
Who are people who tend to use projection as a defense mechanism?
People with paranoia and people experiencing auditory hallucinations (i.e. schizos).
What is “denial?” What is denial associated with?
Unable to cope with reality, it is “no! it’s not so!” Child abuse and substance abuse are associations of denial.
What is “splitting?”
Seperating things into the extremes, good or bad black or white etc. “Best professor ever!” etc.
What are some pathologies that uses splitting?
Idealization and borderline personality disorders.
What are the 3 narcissistic defenses? Is it mature?
Proection, denial, splitting. Considered the least mature defense.
What is “blocking?”
Temporary loss of memory of something focal like a name or term, etc. I.e. in an exam you forget something that you know, and remember it the next day.
What is “regression?”
Regressing back to an earlier time frame, i.e. a child acting like his younger self when he sees that he has a new sibling and wants more attention.
What is “Somatization?”
Real physical manifestation in response to a psychological process, i.e. you are so filled with anxiety that you want to vomit, experiencing the symptom rather than the feeling.
What is “introjection/identification?”
The opposite of projection. Taking things around them and assimilating them as part of “self.”
What is “displacement?”
Redirecting thoughts or feelings from the intended target to another target, i.e. taking out your frustrations on someone when you’re really angry about something else.
How does displacement differ from projection?
The source of the emotion is the same in displacement, i.e. im still angry even though im angry at the wrong person rather than the intended target. In projection the source changes not the target, i.e. my doll will miss my father not me.
What is repression and how does it relate to “denial?”
Repression is when you were aware of a particular event or reality at one point and then it is phased from your memory, never to be returned again and is lost in consciousness, whereas in denial reality never registered in the first place.
What is suppression and how does it relate to repression?
Suppression is repression “light,” you forget something but you are aware that you forgot, and the memory can return.
