PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE MECHANISMS

Repression

Unconsciously keeping unacceptable feelings out of awareness

i.e. A man is jealous of a good friend's success but is unaware of his feelings.

Suppression

Consciously keeping unacceptable feelings and thoughts out of awareness.

i.e. A student taking an examination is upset about an argument with her boyfriend but puts it out of her mind so she can finish the test.

Dissociation

Handling emotional conflicts, or internal or external stressors, by a temporary alteration of consciousness or identity

i.e. A woman has amnesia for the events surrounding a fatal automobile accident in which she was the speeding driver.

Displacement

Discharging of pent-up feelings on persons less dangerous than those who initially arouse the emotion.

i.e. A student who has received a low grade on a term paper blows up at his girlfriend when she asks about his grade.

Identification

Unconscious assumption of similarity between oneself and another.

i.e. After hospitalization for minor surgery, a girl decides to be a nurse.

Projection

Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings and thoughts to others.

i.e. A man who is quite critical of others thinks that people are joking about his appearance.

Introjection

Acceptance of another's values and opinions as one's own.

i.e. A woman who prefers a simple lifestyle assumes the materialistic, prestige-oriented values of her husband.

Denial

Blocking out painful or anxiety-inducing events or feelings.

i.e. A boss tells an employee he may have to fire him. On the way home the employee shops for a new car.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal is usually used when a person is afraid of rejection or afraid to fail. By with drawing the person is attempting to avoid psychological pain. The problem is ,it inevitably leads to strong feelings of loneliness, and it does nothing for the original fears.

Withdrawal takes several forms. Silence and running away are the most common, but the use of drugs and excessive sleeping also occur. Closely related to withdrawal are avoidance and deflection. Many alcoholics use avoidance extensively, i.e., they won't talk about the problems at home and they stay away from others to avoid feelings of embarrassment, shame, etc. Deflection is a method of changing a subject that is or might be painful. Humor and anger are the two commonest methods of deflecting people away from difficult subjects. Alcoholics frequently combine deflection and projection through the use of anger and hostility.

Rationalization

Falsification of experience through the construction of logical or socially approved explanations of behavior.

i.e. A man cheats on his income tax return and tells himself it's all right because everyone does it.

Fantasy

When the world of everyday life becomes too painful or difficult too bear, some people turn to the inner world of fantasy. Day dreaming and wishful thinking replace action. Combined with avoidance you get retreats into fiction via books and/or TV.

Alcoholics often combine rationalizing and fantasy. The result is the "if only..." Syndrome:

If only I had money... If only I were not an Indian... If only I didn't have a wife and children...

If only I could do what I want... If only people understood me... If only I were younger (older)...

Intellectualization

Separating an emotion from an idea or thought because the emotional reaction is too painful to be acknowledged.

i.e. A man learns from his doctor that he has cancer. He studies the physiology and treatment of cancer without experiencing any emotion.

Procrastination

Procrastination is another way to avoid painful feelings by convincing yourself that a problem can be dealt with later.

"I'll look for work tomorrow." "I'll stop drinking tomorrow." "I'll get the car fixed after I get a job."

Reaction-formation

Unacceptable feelings disguised by repression of the real feeling and by reinforcement of the opposite feeling.

i.e. A woman who dislikes her mother-in-law but is always very nice to her.