defense mechanisms Flashcards
Compensation
Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable
ex: A physically handicapped boy is unable to participate in football, so he compensates by becoming a great scholar.
Denial
Refusing to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it.
ex: A woman drinks alcohol every day and cannot stop, failing to acknowledge that she has a problem.
displacement
The transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or that is neutral.
ex: A client is angry at his doctor, does not express it, but becomes verbally abusive with the nurse.
Identification
An attempt to increase self-worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual on admires.
ex: A teenage boy who required lengthy rehabilitation after an accident decides to become a physical therapist as a result of his experiences.
intellectualization
an attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logic, reasoning and analysis.
ex: Susan’s husband is being transferred with his job to a city far away from her parents. She hides anxiety by explaining to her parents the advantages associated with the move.
introjection
integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s own ego structure
ex: Children integrate their parents’ value system into the process of conscience formation. A child says to friend, “Don’t cheat. It’s wrong.”
isolation
Separating a thought or memory from the feeling, tone, or emotion associated with it.
ex: Without showing any emotion, a young woman describes being attacked and raped.
projection
attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person
ex: Sue feels a strong sexual attraction to her track coach and tells her friend, “He’s coming on to me!”
rationalization
attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors
reaction formation
preventing unacceptable or undesirable thought or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviros
regression
responding to stress by retreating to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning.
repression
involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness
sublimation
rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive
suppression
the voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awereness
undiong
symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that one finds intolerable
