Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE MECHANISMS
Rationalization Repression Displacement Identification Intellectualization Ascetism Reaction Formation Introjection and Internalization Projection Denial Sublimation Undoing
Rationalization
▪ Rationalization is a defense process by which plausible reasons justify an action
or opinion.
▪ Rationalization helps the person cope with disappointments by blaming external
circumstances.
▪ A person is using rationalization when, after not getting a job he applied for, he
thinks, “I’ll be better off at a different company.
▪ A person is using rationalization when, after getting turned down for a date, she
says, “That person is really snobby.”
▪ An abused spouse may rationalize hitting her children as ‘punishment’ after being
hit by her spouse.
Repression
Repression refuses to let into awareness unacceptable impulses but remains unconsciously operative in behavior.
▪ A person using repression might feel sexually attracted toward members of the same sex but pushes away this intolerable thought from consciousness only to later dream about such sexual impulses.
▪ A person is using repression when, after years of celibacy, the person begins to eat copious amounts of food.
▪ A young boy exhibits repression when he has a phobia of dogs but cannot remember the first time he was afraid of them.
displacement
Displacement is a defense mechanism in which affect is transferred from one object to another.
▪ A person is using displacement when he compulsively eats lollipops after having quit smoking.
▪ A person is using displacement when she begins to compulsively wash her hands after being shamed for masturbating.
▪ A man is using displacement when he yells at his spouse because he is unable to express anger toward his boss.
Identification
Identification is a process by which qualities of an external object are absorbed into one’s personality.
▪ A Bruce Lee fan is using identification when he becomes a disciplined martial art champion.
▪ A young person is using identification when deciding to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a lawyer.
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Intellectualization
Intellectualization is a process by which content is separated from repressed
affect.
▪ A person uses intellectualization when speaking of his traumatic childhood as if
reading a scripted story.
▪ A victim of sexual assault may use intellectualization by researching factual
PTSD criteria instead of addressing her emotional pain in therapy.
Asceticism
Asceticism is characterized by rigor and self-denial.
▪ An adult uses asceticism when she refuses to eat or sleep until a major work project is complete.
▪ An adolescent uses asceticism to cope with sexual tension and desire by refusing to engage in all pleasurable activities.
Reaction Formation
Reaction formation is a process by which unacceptable impulses are expressed as their opposites.
▪ Reaction formation helps release anxiety and guilt associated with the true impulse.
▪ An angry supervisee uses reaction formation when being overly nice to his supervisor.
A parent with an unwanted child may demonstrate reaction formation by being very overprotective.
▪ A man who is gay uses reaction formation when he openly dates women and criticizes gay men.
Projection
Projection places unacceptable feelings from the person feeling them onto another
person.
▪ A highly anxious colleague is projecting when complaining about anothercolleague’s anxieties.
▪ A person is using projection when he complains that no one likes him but inreality he does not like himself or others.
Denial
Denial distorts reality and does not acknowledge emotion.
▪ Denial is uncommon in very young children because they are unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
▪ A person is using denial when he continues to eat unhealthy foods despite his doctor’s orders to eat healthier.
▪ An alcoholic is in denial when she attends a recovery program but continues to drink alcohol.
Sublimation
A person using sublimation will displace unacceptable instincts for constructive and socially acceptable behaviors.
▪ A person with major depression may use professional dance to help sublimate suicidal thoughts.
▪ A person with aggressive impulses may use sublimation by becoming a kickboxing instructor.
Undoing
Undoing is a process by which we avoid being punished for undesirable thoughts or actions.
A spouse unconsciously undoes his many adulterous acts by buying his partner lavish gifts.
▪ A person is overly nice to a person she had just insulted in her mind.
