This term was first used by Sigmund

Freud.
Defense Mechanism is also known as
Mental Mechanism.
Defense mechanism is a type of
adjustment by which a person can

lower down his stress or tension that is

created by any type of situation in a
person's life.
Defense mechanisms are psychological
strategies that are unconsciously used
toprotecta person from anxiety
arising from unacceptable thoughts or
feelings.
In psychoanalytic theory, a Defense
Mechanism is
an unconscious psychological
mechanism that reduces anxiety
arising from unacceptable or
potentially harmful stimuli.
We use defense mechanisms to protect
ourselves from feelings of anxiety or guilt,
which arise because we feel threatened, or
because our id or superego becomes too
demanding.
Defense mechanisms operate at an
unconscious level and help ward off
npleasant feelings (i.e., anxiety) or make
8ood things feel better for the individual.
Ego-defense mechanisms are natural and
normal. When they get out of proportion
(i.e., used with frequency), neuroses
develop, such as anxiety states, phobias,
obsessions, or hysteria.
Healthy people normally use different
defense mechanisms throughout life. A
defense mechanism
becomes pathological only when its
persistent use leads to maladaptive
behavior such that the physical or
mental health of the individual is
adversely affected. Among the purposes
of ego defense mechanisms is to protect
the mind/self/ego from anxiety or social
sanctions or to provide a refuge froma
situation with which one cannot
currently cope
 Positive Defense Negative Defense
Mechanism/ Mechanism/
Major Mental Mechanism Minor Mental Mechanism
Rationalization
Suppression
Displacement
Compensation Withdrawal
Denial
Projection
Sublimation Regression
ldentification Reaction Formation
Introjection Fixation
Transference Fantasy (Day Dreaming)
Undoing Acting Out
Isolation
 Positive Defense Mechanism
Major Mental Mechanism
Rationalization Rationalization or rationalisation (also known as making
excuses) is a defense mechanism in which controversial behaviors or
feelings are justified and explained in a seemingly rational or logical
manner to avoid the true explanation.

Compensation: The term compensation refers to a type of defense

mechanism in which people overachieve in one area to compensate for
failures in another.
Substitution : An unconscious defense mechanism through which an
unattainable or unacceptable goal, emotion, or object is replaced by one
that is more attainable or acceptable.
 Repression: Also known as Selective Forgetting/ Motivative Forgetting.
One person used to forget unpleasant ideas, nature and memory.
Denial:When a person faces difficult time orsad/hard time then for
sometime he is not able to believe from what he is going through. To
protect oneself from the unpleasant reality.
Sublimation: In psychology, sublimation is a mature type of defense
mechanism, in which socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are
transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior, possibly resulting
in a long-term conversion of the initial impulse.
Sublimation. Sublimation is similar to displacement, but takes place when
we manage to displace our unacceptable emotions into behaviors which
are constructive and socially acceptable, rather than destructive activities.
ldentification: It involves the victim adoptingthe behavior of a person
who is more powerful and hostile towards them.
Introjection: Introjection, one of many defense mechanisms posited by
Sigmund Freud, occurs when a person internalizes the ideas or voices of
other people. This behavior is commonly associated with the
internalization of external authority, particularly that of parents.
Transference: Transference is often related to anger and other relatively
hostile emotions. People naturally want to avoid feelings of anger or hurt,
so they get on the defensive when faced with an attack. Failure to
acknowledge unwanted emotions can result in the use of potentially
destructive defense mechanisms.
Undoing: Undoing is the defense mechanism by which individuals avoid
conscious awareness of disturbing impulses by thinking or acting in a way
intended to revert ("make un-happen") those impulses, even if only at a
symbolic level.
 Negative Defense Mechanism
Minor Mental Mechanism
Suppression: It is part of selective forgetting. In this person knowingly try
to forget his memories. In psychology, suppression is the act of stopping
yourself from thinking or feeling something
Displacement: In this a person displace his emotional feelings on
another
person. A good example of this defense mechanism is getting angry at
your child or spouse because you had a bad day at work. Neither of these
people is the target of your strong emotions, but reacting to them is likely
less problematic than reacting to your boss.
Withdrawal: A try to get rid off. When a person feels or have a feeling of
failure then he used to withdrawal from the situation.
Projection: In this a person used to put his weaknesses and mistakes on another
person.
Regression: Also known as Flight to Childhood. In this a person used to behave
like person of his lower age group.
Formation: Person tries to hide his real feelings and behave in an
Reaction
opposite manner

Fixation: Person isatana certain

adult but still behave in an immature manner and his
personality stops :
stage of life. Example Thumb Sucking.
Also known as Day Dreaming. Usually occur in the
Fantasy:
Years.
age group of 13-19

Acting Out: A person used to show extreme behaviour to express his feelings.
Example : Instead of saying l am angry, he used to throw a book ona person's face.
Isolation: The defense mechanism
of isolation
can lead a person to separate
ideas or feelings from the rest of their thoughts. In
distinguishing an emotion or
impulse from others in this way, a person attempts to protect the ego from
anxieties caused by a specific situation.