DEFENSE MECHANISMS
MECHANISM DESCRIPTION
Repression Repression, also known as
dis-associative amnesia, is
like suppression but it
involves unconsciously
forgetting or blocking some
unpleasant thoughts,
feelings and impulses.
Individuals might use
repression to become
unconscious about
traumatic memories.
Suppression We force the unwanted
information out of our
awareness. We consciously
choose to not indulge in a
conscious thought, feeling
or action even though we
are aware of it. This permits
us to focus on our affairs
without being distracted by
every impulse that arises,
and without having to act on
those impulses.
Regression Regression is the reversion
to an earlier stage of
development in the face of
unacceptable thoughts or
impulses.
Introjection Introjection occurs when a
person internalizes the ideas
or voices of other people.
This behavior is commonly
associated with the
internalization of external
EXAMPLE
> A child who is abused by a parent later has no
recollection of the events, but has trouble forming
relationships.
>A man has a phobia of spiders but cannot
remember the first time he was afraid of them.
> A woman having no recollection of intense pain
she had gone through during child birth
A wife may be peeved about her husband’s
behavior. Because of some guests around her, she
may control her reaction and decide to bring it up
later when no one is around them. Until the guests
are around, she may continue chatting/serving
them, internally she may tell herself ‘I need to look
after the guests, forget about him right now, I’ll
speak to my husband later’. Thus, she is focusing on
the other areas, managing feelings of anger, and
controlling her actions in the present, consciously.
> 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.
> Internalizing criticism from another person and
believing the other person’s points to be valid.
> The mannerisms of a father may be observed by
his son and then replicated.
 authority, particularly that
of parents

Projection Projection is the A spouse may be angry at their significant other for
misattribution of a person’s not listening, when in fact it is the angry spouse who
undesired thoughts, feelings does not listen.
or impulses onto another
person who does not have
those thoughts, feelings or
impulses.

Displacement Displacement is the
redirecting of thoughts
feelings and impulses
directed at one person or
object but taken out upon
another person or object.
A man who gets angry at his boss but can’t express
his anger to his boss for fear of being fired. He
instead comes home and kicks the dog or starts an
argument with his wife.

Symbolization An object, idea, or act > Engagement ring symbol of love

represents another through
> A soldier, when asked why he volunteered, he
some common aspect and
said, "To defend the flag."
carries the emotional feeling
associated with the other.

Sublimation Sublimation is simply the
channeling of unacceptable
impulses, thoughts and
emotions into more
acceptable ones.
When a person has sexual impulses, they would like
not to act upon, they may instead focus on rigorous
exercise.

Compensation Compensation is a process
of psychologically
counterbalancing perceived
weaknesses by emphasizing
strength in other arenas.
When a person says, “I may not know how to cook,
but I can sure do the dishes!” they’re trying to
compensate for their lack of cooking skills by
emphasizing their cleaning skills instead.

Identification Identification (sometimes Identify with the same sex parent and try to become
also called introjection) like him or her.
involves identifying with
someone else, taking on
their personality
characteristics, in order to
solve some emotional
difficulty and avoid anxiety.

Rationalization Rationalization is putting A woman who starts dating a man she really, really
something into a different likes and thinks the world of is suddenly dumped by
 light or offering a different the man for no reason. She reframes the situation in
explanation for one’s her mind with, “I suspected he was a loser all along.”
perceptions or behaviors in
the face of a changing
reality.

Fantasy Fantasy is the channeling of Imagining one’s ultimate career goals can be helpful
unacceptable or when one experiences temporary setbacks in
unattainable desires into academic achievement.
imagination.

Reaction Reaction Formation is the
formation converting of unwanted or
dangerous thoughts,
feelings or impulses into
their opposites.
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.

Restitution When we act on an idea or > A mother spanks her child in anger & later
impulse that we later regret, surprises the child with a new toy.
we may adopt a defense
> A person may intentionally push past someone in a
mechanism of attempting to
shop, but realizing that the person was frail, feel
“undo” that action in order
guilty with regards to their behavior. They may try to
to protect the ego from
undo their action by apologizing or offering to help
feelings of guilt or shame.
the person.

Denial Denial is the refusal to A person who is a functioning alcoholic will often
accept reality or fact, acting simply deny they have a drinking problem, pointing
as if a painful event, thought to how well they function in their job and
or feeling did not exist. relationships.

References:

Cherry, K. (2019). 20 Common Defense Mechanisms Used for Anxiety. Retrieved from
https://www.verywellmind.com/defense-mechanisms-2795960

Grohol, J. (2018). 15 Common Defense Mechanisms. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/15-

common-defense-mechanisms/?all=1

UtahPsych. (2019). Defense Mechanisms. Retrieved from

http://www.utahpsych.org/defensemechanisms.htm