Types of Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
A student who struggles with acdemics might focus on excelling in sports to boost self esteem.
Compensation
putting forth extra effort in 1 area to counterbalance a perceived fla
A person under extreme stress develops sudden blindness, but medical tests show no physical reason
Conversion
the expression of emotional conflicts through physical symptom
A person who has been diagnosed with a serious illness refuses to believe the diagnosis and continues to act as if nothing is wrong.
Denial
ignoring the existence of unpleasant thoughts, feelings,or events
A person who is angry with their boss comes home and yells at their pet instead.
Displacement
redirecting feelings from a threatening target to a safer one
A person who experienced a traumatic event may not remember the details of the event as a way to cope.
Dissociation
blocking out an anxiety-provoking event from consciousness
A child starts dressing and behaving like a favorite teacher in an attempt to gain approval or feel competent.
Identification
attempt to change oneself to resemble an admired person
After a breakup, a person may isolate themselves from friends and family to avoid further emotional pain.
Insulation
withdrawing into passivity to avoid threatening situations
After losing a loved one, someone might focus on the medical details of the death rather than their grief.
intellectualization
focusing on facts and disconnecting from emotional aspects
A child who is scolded for being messy may start to adopt their parent’s neat habits to avoid criticism.
Introjection
incorporating the traits or values of another into oneself.
A soldier recalls a battle but feels no emotion about it, separating the memory from the feelings.
Isolation
blocking feelings associated with an unpleasant experience
A person who is angry at their colleague accuses the colleague of being hostile towards them.
Projection
transferring one’s own feelings or thoughts onto someone else
A student who fails an exam might blame the instructor for being unclear, rather than acknowledging their lack of study.
Rationalization
justifying unacceptable behavior or feelings.
A person who feels insecure about their appearance might become overly confident and boastful.
Reaction Formation
Adopting behaviors opposite to what one truly feels
An adult under stress might start sucking their thumb or cuddling with a stuffed animal.
Regression
reverting to an earlier developmental stage
A person who was abused as a child may not remember the abuse but may struggle with unexplained anxiety.
Repression
unconscious blocking of undesirable thoughts
