Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
Denial
Refusing to accept the truth about something that is happening
Repression
Unwanted thoughts or impulses being unconsciously pushed out off awareness
Projection
Some thoughts or feelings you have about another person may make you uncomfortable. If you project those feelings, you’re misattributing them to the other person.
Displacement
You direct strong emotions and frustrations toward a person or object that doesn’t feel threatening. This allows you to satisfy an impulse to react, but you don’t risk significant consequences.
Regression
Some people who feel threatened or anxious may unconsciously “escape” to an earlier stage of development.
(escaping to a earlier stage of development)
Sublimation
This type of defense mechanism is considered a positive strategy. That’s because people who rely on it choose to redirect strong emotions or feelings into an object or activity that is appropriate and safe.
Rationalization
Some people may attempt to explain undesirable behaviors with their own set of “facts.” This allows you to feel comfortable with the choice you made, even if you know on another level it’s not right.
Reaction formation
People who use this defense mechanism recognize how they feel, but they choose to behave in the opposite manner of their instincts.
Intellectualization
When you’re hit with a trying situation, you may choose to remove all emotion from your responses and instead focus on quantitative facts. You may see this strategy in use when a person who is let go from a job choose to spend their days creating spreadsheets of job opportunities and leads.
Undoing
You try to reverse or undo your feeling by doing something that indicates the opposite
Isolation effect
Coming up with explanations to justify a behaviour
