Defense Mechanisms

Definition: A mental

maneuver that one

consciously or
unconsciously chooses
to use to distort or falsify
the truth of ones
experience in order to
protect oneself from
feeling painful emotions
like shame, guilt, or
anxiety.

LYING
One doesnt tell the truth for

either self-gain or to spare

feeling ridicule, rejection, or
punishment. Phrases like I
swear I didnt do it, or It
doesnt mean anything are
often used when we know
we havent lived up to our
higher selves.
In what circumstances do
you think people lie the
most?

RATIONALIZATION
Occurs when we tell an

element of the truth, but deny

the larger truth of the matter.
For example, I could have
won the race but the track
was wet. The larger truth
was that someone was faster.
I got fired, but the boss was
a jerk. Failures are a threat
to the ego rationalization
doesnt hurt as bad.

REGRESSION
When adult defense

mechanisms stop working

for us, we regress to a
personality we had at
childhood.
For example, when an adult
doesnt take responsibility,
he says, Its not my fault,
its her fault.
Immature patterns of
behavior emerge such as
bragging.

REPRESSION
The person forces the

unacceptable or threatening
feeling out of awareness to a point
where he/she becomes unaware
of it.
Examples could be a simple
reprimand or as serious as a rape.
A person is asked, how do you
get along with your mother and
he responds, just fine as he turns
pale. Negative feelings about the
mother are so unacceptable that
they block his awareness.

DENIAL
The person doesnt

acknowledge the validity of the

matter but acknowledges its
presence. They oppose force
with force.
For example, the alcoholic
expresses, I may like to drink,
but Im not an alcoholic.
Or a smoker concludes that
the evidence linking cigarette
use to health problems is
bogus.

SUPPRESSION
The person is aware of the

unacceptable desire and validates

it but intentionally tries to keep it
from expressing itself.
For example, I know Im an
alcoholic so Im going on the
wagon.
A homosexual who intentionally
doesnt date members of the same
sex so that the unacceptable does
not express itself.
An introvert is conditioned to be an
extrovert.
He often suppress anger.

PROJECTION
The person attributes ones

own perceived negative

attributes onto someone else.
For example, Bill blames the
instructor for a bad grade
when he didnt study.
Sara says, You envy me,
when Sara really envies the
other person.
Sam cheats on his spouse
and blames the spouse for
cheating.

Which Defense Mechanisms Do

You Use the Most?
Lying
Rationalization
Distraction
Regression
Repression
Denial
Suppression
Projection

Remove Defense Mechanisms

by
Reading about them
Writing about your feelings and actions
Talking to a close friend or therapist
Meditating
Praying
EFT

Name the Defense

Mechanism
Joe is mad at Sue as he grits his teeth. Sue asks,

are you mad at me, and he replies, No, Im not mad

at all as he puts a smile on his face.

Name the Defense

Mechanism
The person who doesnt study says, the F grade I

got on the test was totally unfair.

Name the Defense

Mechanism
Karl, a tax accountant teacher instructs his students

to follow the rules of tax law but later Karl cheats on

his taxes.

Name the Defense

Mechanism
Bill Gates tells you your reply is illogical and you

reply, youre the illogical one! Im smarter than you

anyway.

Name the Defense

Mechanism
Cheating on my taxes is no big deal. Everybody

does it