Sigmund Freud Defense Mechanisms Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Study Notes

Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are used to deflect anxiety and cover up feelings that affect self-esteem, and can be used consciously or unconsciously.
They are reversible and can be used in both maladaptive and adaptive ways.

Ego Function and Health

The ego is the major personality mechanism that mediates between the person and the environment.
It is described as the guardian of vital balance.
Ego function refers to the inherent ability to adapt to internal and external demands or stress of the environment.

Different Levels of Defense Mechanisms

Psychotic Mechanisms

Commonly used in healthy individuals before age 5.
Examples include:
- Delusions (fixed false beliefs)
- Projections (attributing unacceptable thoughts, emotions, and impulses to another source)
- Denial (unconscious refusal to admit an unacceptable idea or behavior)
- Distortion (believing something to be true when it is not)
- Splitting (rigidly dividing things into two categories, ignoring the middle ground)

Immature Mechanisms

Commonly used in ages 3 and 15.
Examples include:
- Projection (unconsciously or consciously blaming someone else for one's difficulties)
- Schizoid fantasy (retreating into fantasy to avoid the present situation)
- Hypochondriasis (exaggerated psychosomatic symptoms)
- Passive-aggressive behavior (expressing negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way)
- Acting out (impulsivity)
- Identification (conscious or unconscious assumption of the characteristics of another individual or group)
- Rationalization (creating reasonable and acceptable explanations for unacceptable behaviors)

Neurotic Defenses

Commonly used in ages 3 and 90.
Examples include:
- Intellectualization (consciously or unconsciously using only logical explanations without feelings)
- Repression (unconscious and involuntary forgetting of painful ideas, events, and conflicts)
- Displacement (unconsciously discharging pent-up feelings to a less threatening object)
- Reaction-formation (conscious behavior that is the opposite of an unconscious feeling)
- Dissociation (unconscious separation of painful feelings and emotions from an unacceptable idea, situation, or object)
- Emotional isolation (inability to share one's feelings with others)
- Undoing (consciously doing something to counteract or make up for wrongdoing)

Mature Mechanisms

Examples include:
- Altruism (a sense of unconditional concern for the welfare of others)
- Humor (an overt expression of ideas and feelings that gives pleasure to others)
- Sublimation (channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors)

Description

Test your knowledge on defense mechanisms described by Sigmund Freud. Explore the concept of using defense mechanisms consciously or unconsciously to cope with anxiety and self-esteem issues. Identify the differences between adaptive and maladaptive uses of defense mechanisms.