Psychology: Defense Mechanisms Quiz

Defense Mechanisms

• Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological operations that protect a person from anxiety-producing thoughts and feelings related to internal conflicts and external stressors.

Primitive Defense Mechanisms

• Denial: Refusal to accept reality or facts, acting as if a painful event, thought, or feeling did not exist.
• Regression: Reversion to an earlier stage of development in the face of unacceptable thoughts or impulses.
• Dissociation: A person loses track of time and/or their person and finds another representation of themselves to continue in the moment.
• Compartmentalization: A lesser form of dissociation where parts of oneself are separated from awareness of other parts, behaving as if one has separate sets of values.
• Projection: Misattribution of one's own undesired thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto another person who does not have these.
• Reaction Formation: The conversion of unwanted or dangerous thoughts, feelings, or impulses into their opposites.
• Acting Out: Performing extreme behavior to express thoughts or feelings a person feels incapable of expressing otherwise.

Less Primitive, More Mature Defense Mechanisms

• Repression: Unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and impulses. Memories can be repressed and become inaccessible or viewed. Memory is malleable and ever-changing, influenced by experiences, including what we read or view.
• Displacement: Redirecting thoughts, feelings, and impulses meant for one person or object, but taken out upon another person or object. Often used when unable to express feelings safely to the intended target. Example: Man angry at boss, but unable to express it, directs anger towards his dog or wife.
• Intellectualization: Overemphasis on thinking when confronted with unacceptable impulses, situations, or behaviors, without employing any emotions to mediate and place thoughts into context. Avoidance of painful associated emotions by distancing oneself. Example: A person given a terminal diagnosis focusing on details of possible medical procedures instead of expressing grief.
• Rationalization: Offering a different explanation for one's perceptions or behaviors in the face of a changing reality. Finding a justification that will ease anxiety.
• Undoing: Attempt to take back an unconscious behavior or thought that is unacceptable or hurtful. Example: After unintentionally insulting someone, spending time praising them to "undo" the original comment.

Mature Defense Mechanisms

• Mature defense mechanisms are constructive and helpful for adults, but require practice and effort.
• Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses, thoughts, and emotions into more acceptable ones. Example: A person with anger impulses focusing on rigorous exercise instead of acting out.
• Compensation: Psychologically counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other areas. Recognition that one cannot be strong in all areas of their life. Example: "I may not know how to cook, but I can do the dishes!"
• Assertiveness: Emphasizing one's needs or thoughts in a manner that's direct, firm, and respectful. Communication style falls between passive and aggressive.
• Mature defenses help people become more constructive components of their environment. They foster self-peace and better relationships with others.