Term | Definition |
compensation | attempt to overcome feelings of inferiority or make up for deficiency |
conversion | channeling of unbearable anxieties into body signs and symptoms |
denial | refusal to acknowledge conflict and thus escapes reality |
displacement | redirecting of energies to another person or object |
dissociation | separation of emotions from situation; removal of painful anxieties from conscious awareness |
fantasy | distortion of unacceptable wishes, behaviors |
identification | taking on of personal characteristics of admired person to conceal own feelings of inadequacy |
intellectualization | focusing of attention on technical or logical aspects of threatening situation |
isolation | separation of anxious feelings from content to cope unemotionally with topics that would normally be overwhelming |
projection | putting of one's own unacceptable thoughts, wishes, emotions onto others |
rationalization | use of a "good" (but not real) reason to explain behavior to make unacceptable motivation more acceptable |
reaction formation | development of conscious attitudes and behavior patterns that are opposite to what one really would like to have |
regression | coping with present conflict, stress by returning to earlier, more secure stage of life |
restitution | giving back to resolve guilt feelings |
sublimation | unconscious channeling of unacceptable behaviors into constructive, more socially approved areas |
substitution | suppressing anxiety by replacing inappropriate behavior with one that is more acceptable |
suppression | removal of conflict by removing anxiety from consciousness |
symbolization | use of an unrelated object to represent hidden idea |
undoing | inappropriate behavior that is followed by acts to take away or reverse action and decrease guilt and anxiety |