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Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are techniques people use to:
1. Cope with emotions they are
uncomfortable expressing
-or-
2. Avoid confronting a stressor.
Defense mechanisms can be:
1. Harmful, because they keep a
person from learning how to
accept the reality of a situation and/or
express emotions.
2. A typical response a person has
to an emotion/issue he is not
prepared to handle.
Denial
Refusing to accept and address the reality of the
situation.
Denial
“I don’t have a drinking problem”
(when the reality is that drinking is causing many problems in the
person’s life and relationships…..)
Denial
“I didn’t do it!”(when the reality is that the person
did do it and is afraid to face the consequences…..)
Denial
“Not My Son!”(The reality is that the person’s son
was involved in an illegal incident along with his friends but when confronted about it the parent
refuses to believe it…..)
Rationalization
Creating excuses for a situation instead of
admitting the reality of the situation.
Rationalization
“The reason I drink is because of my stressful
job!”(when the reality is that the person’s drinking would be a problem even if
the person was laid off or unemployed)
Rationalization
“I failed the test because the teacher didn’t tell us
there was one.”(when the reality is that the person
knew about the test but didn’t study/or understand the material)
Rationalization“I didn’t make the team because
I was sick the day I tried out”
(The reality is that the person’s skills still wouldn’t have been good enough to make
the team even if he hadn’t been sick on the day of tryouts.)
Displacement
Redirecting your response to a situation toward
someone who was totally uninvolved with the
situation.
Displacement
“Get out of my way!”
(Directing anger toward someone walking by you when you’re angry
with someone else)
Displacement
“I love you sweety!”(Someone just made you feel very
happy but you don’t feel comfortable responding to them
so you express your delight toward the next friend you see)
Displacement
“You’re always on my case. Leave me alone!”(The person is mad about how friends are treating him/her but
takes it out on a parent who reminds him that it’s time to do his
homework.)
Repression
Not allowing yourself to remember or think about a previous traumatic life
event.
Repression
The person was abused as a youngster but has
no memory of it.
Repression
As a youngster a person witnessed a murder but has no recollection of it.
Regression
Dealing with a situation with immature, childlike behavior instead of age-appropriate
behavior.
Regression
Ex. A teenager reverts to baby talk when talking to
an intimidating adult
Regression
Ex. A potty-trained toddler begins wetting his pants
and needing a diaper when a new baby comes
home.
Regression
Ex. Dad acts like one of the kids when trouble happens instead of
addressing the issue as the parent.
Avoidance
Staying away from a situation that causes you
to feel threatened or uncomfortable.
Avoidance
Phone rings: “If it’s Jim tell him
I’m not here”
(the reality is that the person doesn’t feel comfortable
talking to Jim)
Avoidance
Ex: You did something wrong that made
someone mad and now you stay away from the
person.
Avoidance
Ex: You don’t come to school because you’re
scared to have to give a presentation.
Reaction Formation
Expressing an emotion you’re comfortable
showing people rather than the one you’re truly
feeling.
Reaction Formation
“That’s so funny!”(The reality is that you’re
really upset at how someone’s being treated by a bully but laugh so that you
don’t get picked on, too)
Reaction Formation
“It’s no big deal”
(You act indifferent when the reality is that you’re really scared/worried about the situation)
Reaction Formation
Ex: You’re really nervous about a situation to the point of being petrified
but you crack up laughing about it.
Compensation
Making up for a situation you feel guilty about or
that you failed at.
Compensation
“Pick out anything you want, honey”
(A parent feels guilty about not spending time with his child so buys him whatever he wants)
Compensation
“You look great!” (A girl feels guilty for talking behind someone’s back so
gives the person a compliment next time she sees the person)
Compensation
“Hey, did you hear the one about….?”hee hee
(A kid feels everyone must think he’s dumb since he has no clue what’s going on in math class so instead he gets positive attention
during class by telling jokes)
Projection
Labeling someone to be the same as you when you’re uncomfortable with your
label and need to feel that you’re not alone.
Projection
“You are so fat!”(The reality is that a person
views herself as fat and feels better about herself
when she tells other people that they are fat.)
Projection
“You are beautiful!”
A girl feels so good about her own looks that she wants others to feel the
same way.
Projection
“I know you’re cheating on me!”
(the reality is that the accuser is the one who’s cheating and accuses his partner of
cheating in order to feel better about himself)
Projection
“You will never amount to anything!”
(the reality is the person delivering this message feels like a “loser” and wants the
other person to feel the same way, too.