DSM Defence Mechanisms PDF

DEFINITION OF DEFENCES (FROM THE DSM, APPENDIX B) Idealization: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by attributing exaggerated positive qualities to others. Pseudo-altruism: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by...

DEFINITION OF DEFENCES (FROM THE DSM, APPENDIX B) Idealization: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by attributing exaggerated positive qualities to others. Pseudo-altruism: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by dedication to meeting the needs of others. Unlike the self-sacrifice sometimes characteristic of reaction formation, the individual receives gratification either vicariously or from the response of others. Reaction formation: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by substituting behaviour, thoughts, or feelings that are diametrically opposed to his or her own unacceptable thoughts or feelings (this usually occurs in conjunction with their repression). Undoing: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by words or behaviour designed to negate or to make amends symbolically for unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or actions. Acting out: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by actions, rather than through reflections or feelings. This definition is broader than the original concept of the acting out of transference feelings or wishes during psychotherapy and is intended to include behaviour arising both within and outside the transference relationship. Defensive acting out is not synonymous with "bad behaviour" because it requires evidence that the behaviour is related to emotional conflicts. Autistic fantasy: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by excessive daydreaming as a substitute for human relationships, more effective action, or problem solving. Denial: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by refusing to acknowledge some painful aspect of external reality or subjective experience that would be apparent to others. The term psychotic denial is used when there is gross impairment in reality testing. Devaluation: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by attributing exaggerated negative qualities to self or others. Displacement: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by transferring a feeling about, or a response to, one object onto another (usually less threatening) substitute object. Dissociation: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors with a breakdown in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, perception of self or the environment, or sensory/motor behaviour. Isolation: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by the separation of ideas from the feelings originally associated with them. The individual loses touch with the feelings associated with a given idea (e.g., a traumatic event) while remaining aware of the cognitive elements of it (e.g., descriptive details). Passive aggression: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by indirectly and unassertively expressing aggression toward others. There is a facade of overt compliance masking covert resistance, resentment, or hostility. Passive aggression often occurs in response to demands for independent action or performance or the lack of gratification of dependent wishes but may be adaptive for individuals in subordinate positions who have no other way to express assertiveness more overtly. Projection: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by falsely attributing to another his or her own unacceptable feelings, impulses, or thoughts. Rationalization: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by concealing the true motivations for his or her own thoughts, actions, or feelings through the elaboration of reassuring or self-serving but incorrect explanations. Splitting: The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by compartmentalizing opposite affect states and failing to integrate the positive and negative qualities of the self or others into cohesive images. Because ambivalent affects cannot be experienced simultaneously, more balanced views and expectations of self or others are excluded from emotional awareness. Self and object images tend to alternate between polar opposites: exclusively loving, powerful, worthy, nurturant, and kind or exclusively bad, hateful, angry, destructive, rejecting, or worthless. Affiliation: turning to others for support Altruism: dealing with stressors by dedicating yourself to helping others Anticipation: dealing with stressors by realistically anticipating and planning for the consequences and feelings associated with possible future events, and considering realistic solutions (example: getting old - think ahead and plan your retirement wisely) Sublimation: expression of impulses in an acceptable form (cf. anxiety)  DSQ ITEMS "Neurotic" Defences idealization I always feel that someone I know is like a guardian angel I get satisfaction from helping others and if this were taken away from me I would get depressed If someone mugged me and stole my money, I'd rather he be helped than punished After I fight for my rights, I tend to apologize for my assertiveness "Immature" Defences I often act impulsively when something is bothering me I get more satisfaction from my fantasies than from my real life People say I tend to ignore unpleasant facts as if they didn't exist I pride myself on my ability to cut people down to size When I'm depressed or anxious, eating makes me feel better I ignore danger as if I was Superman Often I find that I don't feel anything when the situation would seem to warrant strong emotions If my boss bugged me, I might make a mistake in my work or work more slowly so as to get back at him I am sure I get a raw deal from life I am able to find good reasons for everything I do As far as I'm concerned, people are either good or bad "Mature" Defences I use a punching bag to dissipate nervous energy through exercise I like attending a group psychotherapy program I am a volunteer at a homeless shelter I am actively planning for retirement