Podcast
Questions and Answers
Anxiety acts as a ______ to the ego that things are not going the way they should.
Anxiety acts as a ______ to the ego that things are not going the way they should.
signal
The ego employs some sort of ______ mechanism to help reduce feelings of anxiety.
The ego employs some sort of ______ mechanism to help reduce feelings of anxiety.
defense
[Blank] is a mature defense mechanisms that signal higher adaptiveness.
[Blank] is a mature defense mechanisms that signal higher adaptiveness.
Altruism
Problems can arise when defense mechanisms are ______ in an attempt to avoid dealing with problems.
Problems can arise when defense mechanisms are ______ in an attempt to avoid dealing with problems.
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[Blank] could also be helpful in addressing maladaptive use of defense mechanisms
[Blank] could also be helpful in addressing maladaptive use of defense mechanisms
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In other instances, these defense mechanisms might hold you back from facing ______ and can act as a form of self-deception.
In other instances, these defense mechanisms might hold you back from facing ______ and can act as a form of self-deception.
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When someone falls back into old ways of doing things, you might term them as '______' into an earlier point of development.
When someone falls back into old ways of doing things, you might term them as '______' into an earlier point of development.
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Defense ______ are unconscious psychological responses that protect people from feelings of anxiety.
Defense ______ are unconscious psychological responses that protect people from feelings of anxiety.
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According to Freud, defense mechanisms protect the conscious mind from contradictions between the animalistic id and the idealistic ______.
According to Freud, defense mechanisms protect the conscious mind from contradictions between the animalistic id and the idealistic ______.
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Freud's daughter, Anna Freud, expanded on her father's theory by describing 10 different defense mechanisms used by the ______.
Freud's daughter, Anna Freud, expanded on her father's theory by describing 10 different defense mechanisms used by the ______.
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Taking out frustration on family and friends after a bad day at work is an example of the ego defense mechanism of ______.
Taking out frustration on family and friends after a bad day at work is an example of the ego defense mechanism of ______.
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______ involves taking out our frustrations, feelings, and impulses on people or objects that are less threatening.
______ involves taking out our frustrations, feelings, and impulses on people or objects that are less threatening.
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Displaced ______ is a common example of the displacement defense mechanism.
Displaced ______ is a common example of the displacement defense mechanism.
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______ is an outright refusal to admit or recognize that something has occurred or is currently occurring.
______ is an outright refusal to admit or recognize that something has occurred or is currently occurring.
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People living with drug or alcohol addiction often ______ that they have a problem.
People living with drug or alcohol addiction often ______ that they have a problem.
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While it may temporarily shield you from anxiety or pain, ______ also requires a substantial investment of energy.
While it may temporarily shield you from anxiety or pain, ______ also requires a substantial investment of energy.
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[Blank] acts to keep information out of conscious awareness.
[Blank] acts to keep information out of conscious awareness.
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[Blank] is a defense mechanism that allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these behaviors into a more acceptable form.
[Blank] is a defense mechanism that allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these behaviors into a more acceptable form.
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[Blank] is a defense mechanism that involves taking your own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people.
[Blank] is a defense mechanism that involves taking your own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people.
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[Blank] works to reduce anxiety by thinking about events in a cold, clinical way.
[Blank] works to reduce anxiety by thinking about events in a cold, clinical way.
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[Blank] 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.
[Blank] 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.
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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 ______.
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 ______.
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[Blank] reduces anxiety by taking up the opposite feeling, impulse, or behavior.
[Blank] reduces anxiety by taking up the opposite feeling, impulse, or behavior.
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Utilizing humor to overcome a stressful, anxiety-provoking situation can actually be an ______ defense mechanism.
Utilizing humor to overcome a stressful, anxiety-provoking situation can actually be an ______ defense mechanism.
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To deal with anxiety, Freud believed that defense mechanisms helped shield the ______ from the conflicts created by the id, superego, and reality.
To deal with anxiety, Freud believed that defense mechanisms helped shield the ______ from the conflicts created by the id, superego, and reality.
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Flashcards
Anxiety
Anxiety
A signal to the ego that there are problems.
Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms
Unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety and distort reality.
Mature Defense Mechanisms
Mature Defense Mechanisms
Adaptive strategies like altruism, humor, sublimation, and suppression.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Maladaptive Defense Mechanisms
Maladaptive Defense Mechanisms
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Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
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Denial
Denial
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Repression
Repression
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Suppression
Suppression
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Sublimation
Sublimation
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Projection
Projection
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Intellectualization
Intellectualization
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Rationalization
Rationalization
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Regression
Regression
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Reaction Formation
Reaction Formation
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Displacement
Displacement
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Ego
Ego
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Id
Id
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Superego
Superego
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Mental Homeostasis
Mental Homeostasis
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Aleksandar Georgiev
Aleksandar Georgiev
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Study Notes
Defense Mechanisms
- Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological responses that protect individuals from anxiety, threats to self-esteem, and uncomfortable thoughts or situations.
- They are employed by the ego to manage conflicts between the id's primal desires and the superego's ideals.
- The term "defense mechanisms" is sometimes spelled with an 's' and sometimes with a 'c' depending on the region.
- Freud and his daughter Anna Freud described various defense mechanisms, while other researchers have identified other ways to reduce anxiety.
Types of Defense Mechanisms
- Displacement: Redirecting negative feelings (e.g., anger) from a threatening source to a less threatening one (e.g., taking frustration out on family).
- Denial: Refusal to acknowledge a painful reality. This can manifest as outright rejection or minimizing the importance of a fact, or blaming others for a situation.
- Repression: Keeping unwanted memories or feelings out of conscious awareness. These memories still influence behavior, even if not consciously recalled.
- Suppression: A conscious effort to push unwanted thoughts from one's mind. This is typically differentiated from repression, which is unconscious.
- Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors (e.g., using kickboxing to manage anger). Freud saw this as a sign of maturity.
- Projection: Attributing one's own unacceptable qualities or feelings to others (e.g., disliking someone and believing they dislike you).
- Intellectualization: Dealing with emotional distress by focusing on the intellectual aspects of a situation (e.g., learning everything about a terminal illness to avoid emotional distress).
- Rationalization: Creating logical explanations for unacceptable behavior or feelings, avoiding the true reasons (e.g., blaming an instructor for a poor exam score).
- Regression: Reverting to earlier, less mature behaviors (e.g., sulking when hearing bad news).
- Reaction Formation: Expressing the opposite of one's true feelings or impulses (e.g., being excessively friendly to someone you dislike).
Further Considerations
- Defense mechanisms are often helpful for temporary stress relief. However, overuse can prevent facing reality.
- Some defense mechanisms are more mature and adaptive (e.g., humor, sublimation) than others.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help individuals address the maladaptive use of defense mechanisms.
- Consulting a mental health professional is recommended if defense mechanisms are significantly impacting one's life.
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Description
Explore the various unconscious psychological responses known as defense mechanisms. This quiz delves into types such as displacement, denial, and repression, and their roles in managing anxiety and self-esteem. Understand how these mechanisms were outlined by Freud and later researchers.
