Psychology Lecture 5: Defense Mechanisms PDF

Psychology Lecture: 5 Defense Mechanisms. By Dr. Fatma Elzaher Please Scan Last Lecture Psychodynamic Factors  The very word “psychodynamic” suggests that there are ongoing interactions between different elements of the mind.  Sigmund Freud not only offered name...

Psychology Lecture: 5 Defense Mechanisms. By Dr. Fatma Elzaher Please Scan Last Lecture Psychodynamic Factors  The very word “psychodynamic” suggests that there are ongoing interactions between different elements of the mind.  Sigmund Freud not only offered names for these elements (id, ego, and superego), he proposed different levels of consciousness.  Since the unconscious mind was very powerful according to Freud, one of the first and most enduring elements of psychodynamic theory is that we are often unaware of why we think and act the way we do. there are ongoing interactions between different elements of the mind. Psychodynamic Factors  Add to that the belief that our personality is determined in early childhood, and you can quickly see that psychological problems would be very difficult to treat.  Perhaps more importantly, since we are not aware of many of our own thoughts and desires, it would difficult or even impossible for us to choose to change our personality no matter how much we might want to.  Psychodynamic theory Sometimes called psychoanalytic theory  explains personality in terms of unconscious psychological processes (for example, wishes and fears of which we're not fully aware), and contends that childhood experiences are crucial in shaping adult personality. Defense Mechanisms In psychoanalytic theory, a defense mechanism is an “unconscious psychological operation that functions to protect a person from anxiety-producing thoughts and feelings related to internal conflicts and outer stressors”. According to this theory, healthy people normally use different defense mechanisms throughout life.  Primitive Defense Mechanisms  1. Denial Denial is the refusal to accept reality or fact, acting as if a painful event, thought or feeling did not exist. It is considered one of the most primitive of the defense mechanisms because it is characteristic of early childhood development. Many people use denial in their everyday lives to avoid dealing with painful feelings or areas of their life they don’t wish to admit. For instance, a person who is a functioning alcoholic will often simply deny they have a drinking problem, pointing to how well they function in their job and relationships.  Primitive Defense Mechanisms  2. Regression Regression is the reversion to an earlier stage of development in the face of unacceptable thoughts or impulses. For an example an adolescent who is overwhelmed with fear, anger and growing sexual impulses might become clingy and start exhibiting earlier childhood behaviors he has long since overcome, such as bedwetting. An adult may regress when under a great deal of stress, refusing to leave their bed and engage in normal, everyday activities. Primitive Defense Mechanisms  3. Dissociation Dissociation is when a person loses track of time and/or person, and instead finds another representation of their self in order to continue in the moment. A person who dissociates often loses track of time or themselves and their usual thought processes and memories. People who have a history of any kind of childhood abuse often suffer from some form of dissociation. In extreme cases, dissociation can lead to a person believing they have multiple selves (“multiple personality disorder”). People who use dissociation often have a disconnected view of themselves in their world. Time and their own self-image may not flow continuously, as it does for most people. In this manner, a person who dissociates can “disconnect” from the real world for a time, and live in a different world that is not cluttered with thoughts, feelings or memories that are unbearable. Primitive Defense Mechanisms  4. Compartmentalization Compartmentalization is a lesser form of dissociation, wherein parts of oneself are separated from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had separate sets of values. An example might be an honest person who cheats on their income tax return and keeps their two value systems distinct and un- integrated while remaining unconscious of the cognitive dissonance.  Primitive Defense Mechanisms  5. Projection Projection is the misattribution of a person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person who does not have those thoughts, feelings or impulses. Projection is used especially when the thoughts are considered unacceptable for the person to express, or they feel completely ill at ease with having them. For example, a spouse may be angry at their significant other for not listening, when in fact it is the angry spouse who does not listen. Projection is often the result of a lack of insight and acknowledgement of one’s own motivations and feelings. Primitive Defense Mechanisms  6. Reaction Formation Reaction Formation is the converting of unwanted or dangerous thoughts, feelings or impulses into their opposites. For instance, a woman who is very angry with her boss and would like to quit her job may instead be overly kind and generous toward her boss and express a desire to keep working there forever. She is incapable of expressing the negative emotions of anger and unhappiness with her job, and instead becomes overly kind to publicly demonstrate her lack of anger and unhappiness.  Primitive Defense Mechanisms  7. Acting Out Acting Out is performing an extreme behavior in order to express thoughts or feelings the person feels incapable of otherwise expressing. Instead of saying, “I’m angry with you,” a person who acts out may instead throw a book at the person, or punch a hole through a wall. When a person acts out, it can act as a pressure release, and often helps the individual feel calmer and peaceful once again. For instance, a child’s temper tantrum is a form of acting out when he or she doesn’t get his or her way with a parent. Self-injury may also be a form of acting-out, expressing in physical pain what one cannot stand to feel emotionally Think Define Psychology. Explain the psychodynamic elements. Write short notes about depression , frustration. Next Lecture will discuss More Mature Defense Mechanisms Regards Dr. Fatma Elzaher