Psychotherapy and defense mechanisms Flashcards
Projection (psychiatry) meaning
is an immature defense mechanism in which the individual attributes his/her thoughts, emotions, or behavior to the thoughts, emotions, or behavior of another individual(s). For example, the computer scientist had a poor performance because he was lazy; he attributes his student’s poor performance to laziness as well when the student’s poor performance could actually have been the result of ill health.
Displacement meaning
neurotic defense mechanism in which an individual redirects negative emotions from its real target to a neutral third party. The neutral third party is often a subordinate or less threatening entity. The computer scientist is displacing his anger at his senior associate to his intern.
Countertransference meaning
term used in psychoanalysis to refer to the effect that the patient has on the psychotherapist. Countertransference is not a defense mechanism.
Controlling meaning
neurotic defense mechanism in which an individual attempts to excessively manage or regulate the environment (i.e., objects or people) to minimize or avoid anxiety. Controlling individuals may become angry if their instructions are not carefully followed.
Reaction formation meaning
is a neurotic defense reaction in which an individual replaces an undesired idea or feeling by acting in a diametrically opposite fashion. For example, a nymphomaniac who becomes a nun, or a man who insults a woman because he is in love with her.
Externalization meaning
is a neurotic defense mechanism in which the individual attributes his/her internal characteristics to the outside world but does not realize that he/she is actually the one with those characteristics. For example, a scientist who is collaborating with a statistician claims that they haven’t been productive because the statistician is extremely lazy when it is actually the scientist who is lazy.
Acting out meaning
A person who is acting out may yell to express negative feelings or thoughts that he/she cannot express calmly and coherently.
Transference
Transference refers to the unconscious redirection of feelings (positive or negative) from a past experience (often from childhood) with one object to a current experience with another object that has a perceived or real similarity to the first object. For example, the computer scientist decides to yell at an intern who unconsciously reminds him of a former classmate who used to bully him in school. Within the context of psychoanalysis, the term transference refers to the projection of unconscious feelings by the patient onto the therapist.
Distortion
Distortion (psychiatry) is a defense mechanism in which the individual reshapes his/her perception of an upsetting reality to be more acceptable. For example, the computer scientist had a poor performance and attributes his poor performance to a conspiracy that has been started by his senior associate to prevent him from getting tenure
Anticipation
is a mature defense mechanism that makes realistic provisions for difficult situations in the future, e.g., going over course notes in preparation for a lecture the next morning.
Passive aggression
expressing negative feelings toward someone in a non-confrontational way. Rather than confront his boss about feeling overworked and undervalued, he feigns illness and thereby forces his boss to take over his workload.
somatization
Individuals with somatization experience and/or express psychological distress as somatic symptoms (e.g., pain).
Blocking
refers to the transient interruption of the thought process, e.g., when a person suddenly forgets the reason for calling a friend.
hypochondriasis
Individuals with hypochondriasis have a persistent obsession with their health and/or the possibility of developing a disease.
