MENTAL DEFENSE MECHANISMS (ADAPTIVE COPING PROCESSES)
Defense Mechanisms or Coping Mechanism
-are unconscious, intrapsychic adaptive processes to cope with anxiety and resolve emotionalconflict-are acquired during the development of the personality as an attempt to defend itself,establish compromises between conflicting impulses and allay inner tensions.
Characteristics of Defense Mechanism
(1) it is automatic(2) it is not defense mechanism that is pathological but it is the frequency of its use(3) used by both mentally healthy and mentally ill individuals
Types of Defense Mechanisms
•
Compensation
- overachievement in one area to offset real or perceived deficiencies inanother area-covering up for a weakness by overemphasizing-“making-up”Example: a homely school girl attempts to impress her peers by making straight A’s•
Conversion
- unconscious expression-turning psychological/emotional conflicts into physical symptomsExample: a husband suddenly develops impotence after his wife discovers he is having anaffair with his secretary•
Denial
- unconscious refusal to face realityExample: “I am not an addict”•
Displacement
- unconsciously transfer of unacceptable feeling, emotion or reaction, to lessthreatening object or personExample: a person who is mad at the boss yells at his or her spouse•
Dissociation
- unconscious separation of painful feelings or emotions from an unacceptableidea, situation or objectExample: Amnesia that prevents recall of yesterday’s auto accident•
Fixation
- stuck in a certain stage of developmentExample: lack of clear sense of identity as an adult•
Fantasy
- conscious distortion of unconscious feeling or wishes- is likened to make-believe and daydreams. Wishes and desires are imagined as fulfilled•
Identification
- a conscious or unconscious attempt to model oneself after a respectedpersonExample: nursing student becoming a critical care nurse because this s the specialty of aninstructor she admires
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Mental Defense Mechanisms
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