ANXIETY AND EGO DEFENSE MECHANISMS

What is anxiety?
It is a state where an individual experiences nervous feeling.
It is also a sate where one fears that something bad may happen.

Types of Anxiety
Freud Sigmund identified three types of anxiety. They included the following:

(i) Reality anxiety

This is fear of real danger in the external world.
Example: a child may fear to cross the road because one time was almost hit by a car. So
he thinks it may happen again.

(ii) Neurotic anxiety

This is fear caused by one’s inner impulses, which cannot be controlled. In otherwords,
that is too much nervousness.
Example: a person who doubts his or her ability to cross a wide road for fear of being
knocked by cars.

(iii) Moral anxiety

That is fear of restrictions of one’s own conscience .
Example: A person may fear to steal or doing wrong for fear of being punished.

Note that;
 Anxiety is an inevitable aspect of the human condition.
 It is also a situation, which is experienced by everyone in life.
 It is one of the psychological problems suffered by people.
 When anxiety is not treated may result into neurosis, mental disorders and abnormal
behaviors, which may require both psychotherapy and medication.
 There are various situations or conditions that may cause anxiety problem.
 Individuals however, tend to find ways or strategies of coping with anxiety - mostly using
defense mechanisms.

Ego Defense Mecahnisms

What are Ego Defense Mechanisms?
These are strategies, which people use to cope with intra-psyche conflict and anxiety.

Ego defense mechanisms are developed by the ego. Use of ego defense mechanisms is not an
indication of an illness.

Ego defense mechanisms function at an un conscious level. A person may be un aware that is
using them.

Each individual uses defense mechanisms which match with a particular problem.
Note that:
 Defense mechanisms distort reality and make the situation less threatening.
 Defense mechanism help the individual to survive.
 Defense mechanisms can however, be maladaptive and destructive when used in extreme – to
distort or deny reality.

Types of defense mechanisms

(i) Repression
This is a defense mechanism where individuals push the painful material into the un
conscious mind.

Repression is the most fundamental defense mechanism and other defense mechanisms
build on it.

It prevents the individual from remembering certain traumatic events. Because if

traumatic material are allowed to surface, they can cause deep anxiety.

Note that
 Repression is not always complete.
 The repressed material are always alive and present in the unconscious mind.
 They can manifest in various ways in form of:
Slips of the tongue
Errors in writing
Memory lapses and dreams
 When repressed material re-emerge can cause deep anxiety, painful thoughts and feelings.

(ii) Denial
This is a defense mechanism commonly used by people.
Denial is unconsciously acquired and motivated.
It is developed as a means of protecting the individual from distress and unpleasantness.
It is used when individuals refuse to face reality of their problems.
It involves distortion of thoughts, feelings and perceptions, so that their true meanings are
not acknowledged.
Examples;
People who deny their age (feel insecure with their age).
People who deny the fact that they are infected with HIV
People who deny the fact that they have committed an offence
etc

(iii) Sublimation

2
 This is a very constructive defense mechanism
It is directed towards reduction of guilt feelings.
It occurs when instinctual drives are re-directed into creative and socially acceptable
expressions.
By use of sublimation the energy is channeled into other acceptable areas or fields.

Example:
People may channel their strong energy into sports as an acceptable field.

People who channel their sexual energy or drives into creative enterprises such as; music,
dance and drama with allows physical display of their bodies.

Note that;
By use of sublimation, energy which is generated by hostility and anger can be used in
other positive ways.

(iv) Regression
This is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to earlier and childlike pattern
of behavior.

It is prompted by the individual’s un conscious wish.

Regression can be caused by conditions such as stress, frustration, anxiety and threats.

Examples:
Children use repression when under threat. For instance, a child may thumb suck, bed
wet, baby talk to seek attention.

Regression in adults can also be seen in various forms. Such as; child behaviors, crying
young talk etc, when one is in pain and or seeking attention.

(v) Projection
This is a defense mechanism used when one blames others for his or her mistakes,
shortcomings or inadequancy.
There is some element of denial.
It is accompanied by condemnation and blame.
It relieves a person of uncomfortable feelings and guilt.
Examples:
A person who denies his sexual feelings and blames women for putting on short skirts

3
 A person who blames colleagues for being incompetent, when h/she has failed to
complete his assignments.
Note that:
Such a person is un cooperative
It is difficult for such a person to change or improve h/her weaknesses.
(vi) Displacement (kick the cat syndrome)
This is a defense mechanism where a person transfers his or her anger on to other persons
(the weak targets).

Example:
A person who has been harassed at place of work may react by transferring h/her anger
on to other persons at home.

Also, some people who experience disruption and tension in their domestic lives, may
displace their feelings to other people at place of work.

Note that:
Such people mainly target persons of the lower status or positions

Energy if directed against someone or something which is unlikely to retaliate.

(vii) Rationalization
This is a defense mechanism where a person justifies his mistakes or bad behaviors.

Examples:
A person who steals may justify that – “the people I steal from are rich”

Also an applicant who fails to get a job, may rationalize it that after all I never seriously
wanted the job.

Note that:
Rationalization is essentially self deception.

It can be destructive, when one continuously uses it (may fail to successfully deal with
problems.

In the short term however, rationalization can help a person to deal with disappointments.

(viii) Reaction Formation

This is a defense mechanism, where a person conceals
real feelings and h/she pretends.

Examples:

4
 A person who likes to drink too much alcohol may express negative views about
drunkards.

A person who is lonely and scared, may try to hide h/her feelings of loneliness and say
that:
“am strongly enough”. “I can manage the situation.”

(ix) Compensation
This is a defense mechanism, where a person develops characteristics or traits to make up
for h/her deficiencies in other areas.

Examples:
Some people who lack social skills and do not easily interact with others, may
compensate by developing intellectual or academic abilities, from which h/she derives
greater satisfaction.

Children who have difficulty with academics, may compensate by becoming so good in
sports.

Note that:
Compensation as a defense mechanism, may sometimes be destructive. A person may
end up unhappy with unfulfilled potential.

(x) Introjection
This is a defense mechanism used to deal with threatening situations.
It is where individuals incorporate external values of the oppressor with their values and
own them as part of the self.
It is done when an individual is seeking survival.
It is used to make threatening situations less or no more threatening.
It helps individuals to cope with difficult situations.
It helps the individual to achieve peace of mind.
Examples:
Victims of kidnap may begin to accept the values of the kidnapers, in order to survive.

Note that:
Interjection however, can be destructive, especially then an individual continuously lives
an abusive life.

(xi) Humor
This is a defense mechanism used when an individual represses painful and depressive
feelings.

5
There is some element of pretence that everything is alright.

Humor can help a person to deal with traumatic and challenging situations.

Note that:
Like other defense mechanisms however, humor can be problematic, especially when it is
constantly used to deny reality.