Development of psychological thought

Defence mechanisms are described as the Strategies the ego uses to defend itself against the
anxiety provoked by conflicts of everyday life. Anxiety is defined as an objectless fear,
meaning that we cannot point to its source, to a specific object that caused it.
Although defence mechanisms vary in their specifics, they share two characteristics in
common:
(1) they are all denials or distortions of reality—necessary ones, but distortions nonetheless,
and
(2) they all operate unconsciously.
We are unaware of them, which means that on the conscious level we hold distorted or unreal
images of our world and ourselves. The ego has to reduce the conflict between the demands
of the id and the strictures of society as represented by the superego.
When we cannot cope with anxiety, when we are in danger of being overwhelmed by it, the
anxiety is said to be traumatic. What Freud meant by this is that the person, regardless of age,
is reduced to a state of helplessness like that experienced in infancy.
Characters
Euphoria (repression/sublimation)
Repression involves forcing out dangerous or anxiety-provoking thoughts, memories or
perceptions from consciousness into the unconscious realm. Repression can operate on
memories of situations or people, on our perception of the present (so that we may fail to see
some obviously disturbing event right in front of us), and even on the body’s physiological
functioning.
For most of us, he believed, irrational thoughts and wishes escape from their unconscious
lock-up before sneaking out to contaminate our dreams, slips of the tongue, and humour.
Freud believed repression is involved to some degree in other defence mechanisms
Sublimation the ego takes a wish or thought that society deems improper and substitutes it
with a more acceptable one. Freud saw sublimation as important to the overall goals of
civilization.
In the television series "Euphoria," Nate Jacobs, a central character, demonstrates aspects of
both repression and sublimation as defence mechanisms to cope with his internal struggles
and emotions.
Repression: Nate Jacobs engages in repression as a defence mechanism to cope with
traumatic experiences and emotions from his past. He attempts to bury and deny these
distressing memories or thoughts associated with his family dynamics, specifically his
relationship with his father and the pressure to maintain a façade of masculinity and control.
Examples of repression in Nate's character:
 He represses memories and emotions related to his father's abusive behaviour and
the fear of not living up to his expectations.
  Nate suppresses his own insecurities and confusion about his sexual identity,
choosing to adopt a hyper-masculine persona to avoid facing his true self.
Sublimation: Nate also engages in sublimation, a defence mechanism that involves
channelling or redirecting potentially harmful or unacceptable impulses or emotions into
more socially acceptable outlets. In Nate's case, he directs his anger, frustration, and
confusion into sports and aggressive behaviours, which are considered more acceptable in his
societal context.
Examples of sublimation in Nate's character
 Nate excels in sports, particularly football, channelling his aggression and competitive
nature into his athletic performance. This helps him gain a sense of accomplishment
and control over his emotions.
 Nate uses his aggressive behaviours and confrontations to assert dominance and
power over others, providing an outlet for his pent-up frustrations and insecurities.
By employing repression, Nate attempts to bury his vulnerabilities and trauma deep within
his subconscious, avoiding confronting them directly. Meanwhile, through sublimation, he
redirects his intense emotions and frustrations into activities that allow for societal approval
and a sense of achievement, providing an outlet for his inner turmoil. These defense
mechanisms help Nate cope with the complexities of his emotions and maintain a carefully
constructed external image.

13 reasons why (denial/repression)

Denial is denying the existence of an external threat or traumatic event; for example, a person
living with a terminal illness may deny the imminence of death.
Jessica Davis uses denial in the start of the show when she is confronted by clay Jenson about
the night of her sexual assault. She doesn’t think the content of those tapes is true. It may also
be the case that she has repressed those memories which later comes back in flashes
throughout the next season.
Background: Jessica Davis is one of the main characters of this show. She was portrayed as
very outspoken, lively, popular girl of her school in the start of the show. She became friends
with Hannah baker after they get paired together by the student counsellor. But their
friendship is short lived due to some misunderstanding. Jessica is reluctant to believe the
things Hannah mentions on those tapes but at the same time she doubts that she might be
wrong.
Relationship and growth: Jessica dates Jusitn foley and Alex standall and both relationships
takes dynamic turns throughout the show. Justin doesn’t share the truth about that night
initially because he is friends with Bryce walker.
Sexual assault and its consequences: Throughout the season 1, it can be seen how the
memories from that night if the party are returning to her conscious. These memories lead to
panic attacks, difficulty in being physically intimate, self- esteem issues, etc.
Blur (regression)
Regression involves the retreat to an earlier stage of development, resulting in attitudes and
behaviours that defined that period. Regressions may be brief and episodic or, in the face of
overwhelming threats, may persist over month.
In the movie blurr, Chander, the caretaker is not shown in light for the major part of the
movie. His concerns are if anyone sees him fully, they won’t love him anymore. Hence, he is
always kept in dark and he eventually learns to live with it. That is why, when gayatri, the
protagonist, starts to gain her eyesight, he is afraid that she’ll leave him and tries to hold her
captive.
The regression can be seen in the scene when he confronts his mother and his mother blames
and guilts him about his childhood. She blames him for her unfulfilled dreams of becoming
an actress and we can see how he was kept in the dark, away from social world because he
was an embarrassment for his parents.
This shows how his love for darkness and insecurities stem from and why he pees his pants
when his mother confronts him.
Cal Jacobs (reaction formation/projection)
Reaction formation is when we encounter a defence in which the ego masks awareness of an
anxiety-provoking motive by emphasizing its opposite.
Projection occurs when we attribute personal faults or weaknesses to other people, objects,
or situations. The ego finds safety in projection because it distances itself from motives and
ideas that provoke anxiety.
In the television series "Euphoria," Cal Jacobs is a character who exhibits elements of
reaction formation as a defence mechanism. Cal is a prominent figure in the community, a
successful businessman, and a father to Nate Jacobs, another main character in the show.
However, underneath this facade of success and authority, Cal grapples with deep-seated
issues related to his sexuality and identity.
Here's how Cal Jacobs portrays reaction formation
1. Heteronormative masculinity: Cal Jacobs adheres to a hyper-masculine and
heteronormative persona. He portrays himself as a typical, conservative, and
dominant man within his community. This could be seen as a reaction formation
where he exaggerates and displays extreme heterosexual behaviours to compensate
for any internal confusion or conflict related to his true sexual identity.
2. Aggressive and controlling behaviour: Cal exhibits aggressive and controlling
behaviour, especially in his interactions with Nate and other individuals. This can be
viewed as a reaction formation to mask his internal vulnerability and confusion
regarding his sexual desires. By asserting control and dominance over others, he
attempts to suppress or divert attention from his internal struggles.
3. Obsession of masculine power: Cal places a significant emphasis on demonstrating
traits associated with traditional masculinity and power dynamics. This includes his
fascination with dominant and submissive roles, particularly in his encounters with
younger individuals. This exaggerated focus on traditional masculinity and power
 dynamics can be seen as a reaction formation to conceal any feelings of insecurity or
inadequacy he may have regarding his own sexual identity.
4. Avoidance and self-reflection: Cal avoids confronting his own sexual orientation and
identity by projecting a strong and unwavering heterosexual image. He refuses to
engage in self-reflection or openly acknowledge his true self, employing the defence
mechanism of reaction formation to distance himself from his authentic feelings and
desires.
Overall, Cal Jacobs in "Euphoria" uses reaction formation as a defence mechanism to conceal
his internal struggle with his sexual identity by projecting a hyper-masculine,
heteronormative image to the outside world. This allows him to avoid confronting his true
self and the complex emotions tied to his sexuality.

Good will hunting (intellectualization)

Intellectualization involves a person using logic and reasoning to avoid uncomfortable or
anxiety-provoking situations.
The main character, Will Hunting, is a genius with a troubled past. He uses intellectualization
to distance himself from his traumatic upbringing and emotional scars. Will engages in
intellectual battles and avoids addressing his emotional struggles until he starts therapy and
confronts his past.
1. Mathematical genius and intellectual prowess: Will Hunting is a brilliant
mathematician with an exceptional ability to solve complex mathematical problems.
He uses his intellect as a way to distance himself from emotional challenges and
maintain a sense of control. He intellectualizes problems and mathematical concepts,
finding solace in the realm of numbers and equations rather than confronting his
personal issues.
2. Analysing relationships and emotions objectively: Will often analyses relationships
and emotional experiences from an intellectual standpoint. He breaks down
relationships into logic-based evaluations, providing insightful analyses of why
relationships succeed or fail. By analysing emotions objectively, he avoids directly
dealing with his own emotional struggles
3. Detachment from personal trauma: Will is deeply scarred by his traumatic past and
abusive childhood. To cope with this trauma, he intellectualizes his experiences,
discussing them in a rational and detached manner rather than allowing himself to feel
the emotional pain associated with those experiences.
4. Intellectualising therapy sessions: During therapy sessions with Dr. Sean Maguire,
Will engages in intellectual discussions, quoting books, and analysing psychological
theories. He uses intellectualization as a way to deflect from addressing his deep-
seated emotional issues and personal traumas, often challenging Sean intellectually.
5. Intellectual confidence and deflection: Will portrays a confident and intellectually superior
image to others, especially to those who try to get close to him emotionally. This intellectual
confidence serves as a defence mechanism to deflect from the deeper emotional issues and
insecurities he harbours.
While Will Hunting's intellectualization provides him with a way to cope and maintain a semblance of
control, it also acts as a barrier to personal growth and emotional healing. Throughout the movie,
the character undergoes a transformative journey that involves confronting his emotional pain and
allowing himself to experience vulnerability and connection, ultimately moving beyond
intellectualization.