For example, a person experiencing extreme anger might take up kick-boxing as a means of venting frustration. Freud believed that sublimation was a sign of maturity that allows people to function normally in socially acceptable ways. Projection is a defense mechanism that involves taking our own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people.
Projection works by allowing the expression of the desire or impulse, but in a way that the ego cannot recognize, therefore reducing anxiety. Intellectualization works to reduce anxiety by thinking about events in a cold, clinical way.
This defense mechanism allows us to avoid thinking about the stressful, emotional aspect of the situation and instead focus only on the intellectual component. For example, a person who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness might focus on learning everything about the disease in order to avoid distress and remain distant from the reality of the situation.
Rationalization is a defense mechanism that involves explaining an unacceptable behavior or feeling in a rational or logical manner, avoiding the true reasons for the behavior.
For example, a person who is turned down for a date might rationalize the situation by saying they were not attracted to the other person anyway.
A student might blame a poor exam score on the instructor rather than their own lack of preparation. Rationalization not only prevents anxiety, but it may also protect self-esteem and self-concept. When confronted by success or failure, people tend to attribute achievement to their own qualities and skills while failures are blamed on other people or outside forces.
When confronted by stressful events, people sometimes abandon coping strategies and revert to patterns of behavior used earlier in development. Anna Freud called this defense mechanism regression, suggesting that people act out behaviors from the stage of psychosexual development in which they are fixated. For example, an individual fixated at an earlier developmental stage might cry or sulk upon hearing unpleasant news.
Behaviors associated with regression can vary greatly depending upon which stage at which the person is fixated. According to Freud, an individual fixated at the oral stage might begin eating or smoking excessively, or might become very verbally aggressive. A fixation at the anal stage might result in excessive tidiness or messiness.
Reaction formation reduces anxiety by taking up the opposite feeling, impulse, or behavior. Why do people behave this way? According to Freud, they are using reaction formation as a defense mechanism to hide their true feelings by behaving in the exact opposite manner.
Since Freud first described the original defense mechanisms, other researchers have continued to describe other methods of reducing anxiety. Some of these defense mechanisms include:. While defense mechanisms are often thought of as negative reactions, we all need them to temporarily ease stress and protect self-esteem during critical times, allowing us to focus on what is necessary at the moment. Some of these defenses can be more helpful than others. For example, utilizing humor to overcome a stressful, anxiety-provoking situation can actually be an adaptive defense mechanism.
Some of the best-known defense mechanisms have become a common part of everyday language. We might describe someone as being "in denial" of a problem they face. When someone falls back into old ways of doing things, we might term them as "regressing" into an earlier point of development. They can serve a helpful role by protecting your ego from stress and providing a healthy outlet.
In other instances, these defense mechanisms might hold you back from facing reality and can act as a form of self-deception. If you notice that overuse of certain defense mechanisms is having a negative impact on your life, consider consulting with a mental health professional. Psychotherapy may help whether you pursue a traditional face-to-face treatment or an online therapy option.
Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Cramer P. Understanding defense mechanisms. Psychodyn Psychiatry. Association of ego defense mechanisms with academic performance, anxiety and depression in medical students: A mixed methods study. Corey, G. Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 8th ed. Minimization of childhood maltreatment is common and consequential: Results from a large, multinational sample using the childhood trauma questionnaire. A theory of blame.
Psychological Inquiry. Anderson MC, Huddleston E. True and False Recovered Memories. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. Vaillant GE. American Psychiatric Pub; Sport is another example of putting our emotions e. For example, fixation at the oral stage of development may later lead to seeking oral pleasure as an adult through sucking one's thumb, pen or cigarette.
Also, fixation during the anal stage may cause a person to sublimate their desire to handle faeces with an enjoyment of pottery. Rationalization is a defense mechanism proposed by Anna Freud involving a cognitive distortion of "the facts" to make an event or an impulse less threatening. We do it often enough on a fairly conscious level when we provide ourselves with excuses.
But for many people, with sensitive egos, making excuses comes so easy that they never are truly aware of it. In other words, many of us are quite prepared to believe our lies. When a person finds a situation difficult to accept, they will make up a logical reason why it has happened. For example, a person may explain a natural disaster as 'God's will'. Reaction formation is a psychological defense mechanism in which a person goes beyond denial and behaves in the opposite way to which he or she thinks or feels.
Conscious behaviors are adopted to overcompensate for the anxiety a person feels regarding their socially unacceptable unconscious thoughts or emotions. Usually, a reaction formation is marked by exaggerated behavior, such as showiness and compulsiveness. Therapists often observe reaction formation in patients who claim to strongly believe in something and become angry at everyone who disagrees. Freud claimed that men who are prejudice against homosexuals are making a defense against their own homosexual feelings by adopting a harsh anti-homosexual attitude which helps convince them of their heterosexuality.
Another example of reaction formation includes the dutiful daughter who loves her mother is reacting to her Oedipus hatred of her mother. Identification with the aggressor is a defense mechanism proposed by Sandor Ferenczi and later developed by Anna Freud.
It involves the victim adopting the behavior of a person who is more powerful and hostile towards them. By internalising the behavior of the aggressor the 'victim' hopes to avoid abuse, as the aggressor may begin to feel an emotional connection with the victim which leads to feelings of empathy. An extreme example of this is the Stockholm Syndrome, where hostages establish an emotional bond with their captor s and take on their behaviors.
Patty Hearst was abused and raped by her captors, yet she joined their Symbionese Liberation Army and even took part in one of their bank robberies. At her trial, she was acquitted because she was a victim suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. McLeod, S. Defense mechanisms. Simply Psychology. Ferenczi, S. Confusion of tongues between adults and the child pp. Freud, A. Freud, S. New introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. A person may require medication for an underlying mental health condition.
Depending on the condition, these treatments may include:. Defense mechanisms are a natural part of human psychology. They help the mind cope with uncomfortable or traumatic situations or emotions. However, some people routinely use defense mechanisms as a way of avoiding their feelings and emotions or excusing their behavior. If a person is continually relying on unhelpful patterns of thinking, they may wish to seek support from a qualified therapist.
With the right treatment, people can reduce their use of defense mechanisms and learn to address their feelings and emotions in a more positive and constructive way. There are five commonly accepted stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Learn about the stages and different types of…. Stress is essential for survival. The chemicals that it triggers help the body prepare to face danger and cope with difficulty.
However, long-term…. Psychology is the study of the mind, how it works, and how it might affect behavior. Understand the differences between a psychologist and a…. Neuroticism is a personality trait involving a long-term tendency to be in a negative or anxious emotional state. The term neuroses refers to a range…. PTSD is triggered by a traumatic event. This may be an aggressive incident or conflict situation, or it could result from the loss of a loved one.
Defense mechanisms in psychology: What are they? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Defense mechanisms Related conditions Treatments Defense mechanisms are a way for the mind to cope with stress or difficult feelings. Defense mechanisms. Origins and related conditions. Treatment options. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.
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