Psychology Chapter on Defense Mechanisms

A three-stage response to stress, including an alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion.

The initial stage of the GAS, characterized by the body's fight-or-flight response.

The second stage of the GAS, where the body adapts to ongoing stress and tries to cope.

The final stage of the GAS, where the body's resources are depleted, leading to a breakdown.

A state of prolonged stress that can lead to emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a feeling of reduced personal accomplishment.

Stress caused by traumatic experiences like war, natural disasters, or violence. Victims may experience flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety.

A negative emotional state triggered by obstacles that prevent us from achieving desired goals.

The ability to withstand and overcome difficult situations and stressors.

Stress is the mental and physical condition that occurs when we adjust or adapt to our surrounding environment.

Our reactions to stressful events depend on how we perceive them. This means that different people can experience stress differently even if they are facing the same situation.

Stress is the mental and physical condition that occurs when we adjust or adapt to the environment. It is a matter of how we perceive events and react to them. Because of this, stress can often be managed or controlled.

Eustress is a positive type of stress that can be motivating and challenging. It's the kind of stress you experience from things like exercise, a new job, or a challenging project.

Our reactions to stressful events are greatly affected by how we appraise or evaluate situations. This means our perception impacts our response.

The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a series of bodily reactions to prolonged stress. It describes how our bodies cope with prolonged stress.

Long-term stress can be damaging to our health. It can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression.

A healthy lifestyle can include positive, short-term stress that doesn't cause harm. This kind of stress is often from activities like exercise or travel.

A situation where a person must choose between opposing needs, desires, motives, or demands.

A conflict where you must choose between two appealing options.

A conflict where you face two unappealing options.

A conflict where you are drawn to a certain option, but also afraid of its potential consequences.

A situation involving multiple simultaneous conflicts.

A mental process used to avoid, deny, or distort threats or anxieties, often related to self-image.

A state of feeling troubled, uneasy, or apprehensive, often triggered by threatening situations.

Any circumstance that poses a potential threat or danger to a person's well-being or self-esteem.

Attributing your own unacceptable feelings or impulses to someone else.

Making excuses for your actions by giving false reasons.

Overcoming a weakness by excelling in another area.

Redirecting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

Exaggerating negative traits in others to justify your own actions.

Giving a convincing but false explanation for your behavior.

Compensation helps us overcome feelings of inferiority.

Sublimation helps us express our desires in a socially acceptable way.

A defense mechanism where individuals protect themselves by refusing to accept or believe a painful reality, often related to death, illness, or other threatening events.

A defense mechanism where individuals unconsciously block out painful memories or impulses to protect their self-image. Common targets include traumatic events, hostile feelings, and past failures.

A defense mechanism where individuals repress impulses, but instead of ignoring them, they overcompensate by exaggerating opposite behaviors. This often involves acting out a behavior opposite to their true feelings.

A defense mechanism where individuals revert to earlier, less demanding stages of development or behaviors when faced with stress. Examples include a child sucking their thumb or an adult curling up in a fetal position.

Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies that people use to protect themselves from anxiety, stress, or unpleasant emotions. They operate to reduce anxiety and maintain a sense of self-esteem.