Defense Mechanisms

Question	Answer
Compensation	Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable
Example of compensation	Physically handicapped boy who cannot participate in sports excels in school.
Denial	Refusing to acknowledge the existence of real situation or feelings associated.
Example of denial	Alcoholic failing to acknowledge the existence of drinking problem.
Displacement	Transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or neutral.
Example of displacement	A child who is bullied at school and comes home and kicks his dog.
Identification	Attempt to increase self worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one admires.
Example of identification	A teenager required lengthy rehab after an accident and decides to become a physical therapist.
Intellectualization	Attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with stressful situation by using intellectual processes of logic, reasoning and analysis
Example of intellectualization	S's husband is transferred to a city far away for his job. S hides the anxiety by explaining the advantages of the move to her parents.
Introjection	Integrating beliefs and values of another person into one's own ego structure
Example of introjection	Children integrate parent's value system into process of conscience formation.
Isolation	Separating thoughts of memories from the feeling, tone or emotion associated with it.
Example of isolation	Young woman describes being raped without showing emotion. Apathetic expression and no emotional tone.
Projection	Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one's self to another person. "Passing the blame"
Example of projection	A business person who values punctuality is late for a meeting and states, “Sorry I’m late. My assistant forgot to remind me of the time. It’s so hard to find good help these days.”
Rationalization	Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical responses to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors.
Example of rationalization	A young man is unable to afford the sports car he wants so desperately. He tells the salesperson, “I’d buy this car but I’ll be getting married soon. This is really not the car for a family man.”
Reaction formation	Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors.
Example of reaction formation	Jane hates nursing but went to nursing school to please her parents. During career day, she speaks to prospective students about the excellence of nursing as a career.
Regression	Retreating in response to stress to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning.
Example of regression	When 2 year old Jay is hospitalized for tonsillitis, he only drinks from a bottle even though his mom states he has been drinking from a cup for 6 months.
Repression	Involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one's awareness.
Example of repression	An accident victim can remember nothing about his accident.
Sublimation	Re-channeling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive
Example of sublimation	A young unmarried woman with a strong desire for marriage and a family achieves satisfaction and success in establishing and operating a daycare center for preschool children.
Suppression	Voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one's awareness
Example of suppression	"I don't want to think about that now. I'll think about it tomorrow."
Undoing	Symbolically negating or cancelling out an experience that one finds intolerable
Example of undoing	Joe is nervous about his new job and yells at his wife. On his way home he buys her flowers.

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	Created by Yean Ji Jung about 4 years ago