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9 Defense Mechanisms
Freud: Personality. Defense mechanisms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Repression | Freud said we do this with memories and feelings that are too hard to handle in our conscious minds |
Denial | If we can’t face the truth, we claim that we are not at fault. The event goes in/out of the consciousness until we push it down. |
Rationalization | Giving socially acceptable reasons for inappropriate behavior Ex: Excuses |
Sublimation | This is the healthiest of all the defense mechanisms. When in the throes of a bad event, we turn to creativity and distract ourselves from the distress |
Displacement | Taking inappropriate feelings out on a less important person, animals, or object |
Reaction-Formation | Displaying the opposite reaction to what you are really feeling. Ex: Laughing instead of crying for sadness |
Transference | The patient transfers feelings to the therapist that he/she would have for a father or mother. While pleasing the therapist, they are not working on their problems |
Projection | With this mechanism we take a flaw that we can’t face as our own, and place it onto another person. Ex: “You are always so obnoxious. Can’t you see you turn people off?” Meanwhile, it is us looking in the mirror at our own flaws. |
Regression | Retreat to an earlier level of development: Curl up with a blanket, cuddle with an old stuffed animal |