Stress Flashcards
Defense mechanisms
Avoidance
unconsciously staying away from events or situations that might open feelings of aggression or anxiety
EX: “i can’t go to the class reunion tonight. I’m too tired; I have to sleep.”
Compensation
making up for a perceived inadequacy by developing or emphasizing some other desirable trait
EX: “A small boy who wants to be on the football team instead becomes a great singer.”
conversion
Emotional conflict is changed into physical symptoms that have no physical basis. The symptoms often disappear after the treat is over
EX: “feeling back pain when it is difficult to continue carrying the pressures of life; developing nausea that causes the person to miss a major examination.”
denial
transforming reality by refusing to acknowledge thoughts, feeling, desires, or impulses. This is unconscious; the person is not consciously lying. Denial is usually the first defense learned.
EX: “A student refuses to acknowledge that they are barely passing anatomy, does not withdraw from the class, and is now failing a nursing course.”
or
“A person with alcohol dependence states, “I can quit anytime I want to.”
displacement
“kick the dog” Transferring emotions, ideas, or wishes from one original object or situation to a substitute inappropriate person or object that is perceived to be less powerful or threatening.
EX: “ husband loses his job, goes home, and yells at his wife (mechanism is rarely adaptive)
dissociation
painful events are separated or dissociated from the conscious mind.
EX: “A person who was sexually abused as a child describes the events as though they happened to a sibling.”
identification
a person takes an idea, personality, or characteristics of another person, especially someone whom the person fears or respects.
EX: “children play cowboy, police, firefighter, or mommy.”
intellectualization
cognitive reasoning is used to block or avoid feelings about a painful incident.
EX: “when her husband dies, the wife relieves her pain by thinking, “it’s better this way; he was in so much pain.”
or
“A person says “i Think” rather than “I feel”
minimization
not acknowledging or accepting the significance of own’s own behavior, making it less important.
EX: “it doesn’t matter how much i drink. I never drive when i’m drinking.”
projection
blaming others. Attributing one’s own personality traits, mistakes, emotions, motives, and thoughts to another, “finger pointing”
EX: “the clinical instructor makes me nervous, so i cannot do well.”
or
“i forgot to bake cookies because you didn’t tell me that cookies were due at school today.”
rationalization
use of logical-sounding excuse to cover up or justify true ideas, actions, or feelings. An attempt to preserve self-respect or approval or to conceal a motive for some action by giving a socially acceptable reason. Similar to intellectualization but uses faulty logic
EX: “it was God’s will that this happened to me.”
or
“if i didn’t have work, i would be a better wife.”
reaction formation
similar to compensation, except the person develops the opposite trait. The person is aware of their feelings but acts in ways opposite to what they are really feeling.
EX: “it’s okay that you forgot my birthday” (when its really not okay)
regression
using behavior appropriate in an earlier stage of development to overcome feeling of insecurity in a present situation.
EX: “cooks and eats a comfort food (e.g., hot fudge sundae)
or
“A divorced 60 yr old dresses and acts like a teenager.”
repression
unconscious “burying” or “forgetting” of painful thoughts, feelings, memories, ideas; pushing them from a conscious to an unconscious level. It is a step deeper than denial.
EX: “having no memory of sexual abuse by sibling or father.”
or
“ an adolescent forgets to put out the trash because being “bossed” makes him angry, but he feels guilty if he consciously chooses not to do it.”
Restitution (undoing)
making amends for a behavior one thinks is unacceptable to reduce guilt.
EX: “giving a treat to a child who has been punished for wrongdoing.”
