‫م‪.‬د‪ .

‬نور علي حسن‬

‫اختصاص االمراض النفسية واالدمان‬
‫كلية طب الكندي‪ -‬فرع الطب‬
❖ Objectives

● Understand the classification of defense mechanisms

● Clarify the definition of each type by examples

 Defense mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that
are unconsciously used to protect a person from anxiety
arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
A. Mature Defenses:
These mechanisms are healthy and adaptive
throughout the life cycle. They are socially adaptive
and useful in the integration of personal needs and
motives, social demands, and interpersonal relations.
1. Altruism: refers to means of transforming uncomfortable
feelings and thoughts, this time by helping others suffering from
similar feelings and thoughts who are less far along in dealing with
them than myself. example
"I'm a recovering alcoholic and every day is a small struggle to remain
sober. I help myself stay in control by being a sponsor for other
Alcoholics who are less stable in their sobriety than myself".
2.Sublimation: Uncomfortable feelings and thoughts are
transformed when a person chooses to take the energy behind
these feelings and thoughts and put it towards a different,
constructive purpose.
For example: "I'm mad at my father, but instead of yelling at
him (which won't help things), I'm going to get out my paints
and paint a picture.
3. Suppression: is the conscious effort to avoid certain
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, or to keep them out of
consciousness( conscious form of repression).

"I'm mad at my mom, but it won't help to tell her that at this
family party. I'll save this revelation for a time when we can
speak about it privately".
Being abused as a child but choosing to push it out of your
mind.
4. Humour: Pointing out the funny or ironic aspects of a
situation. An example of this might be cracking a joke in a
stressful or traumatic situation.
B. Immature Defenses
These mechanisms are fairly common in preadolescent years
and in adult character disorders. They are often mobilized by
anxieties related to intimacy or its loss. Although they are
regarded as socially awkward and undesirable, they often
moderate with improvement in interpersonal relationships or
with increased personal maturity.
1. Regression: A return to a previous stage of development or
functioning to avoid the anxieties or hostilities involved in
later stages.
Example: This is often seen in children where trauma is
experienced, such as bringing a new baby into the home. The
child fears they will be replaced. They may revert to childlike
behavior to receive more attention.
2. Acting out: The direct expression of an unconscious wish or
impulse in action to avoid being conscious of the
accompanying affect, causes for serious acting out include:
1. Weak bonding with parents.
2. A home environment that exposes children to violence.
3. Gender(males more than females engage in such behavior)
4. Lower socioeconomic status.
5. Heredity
Example: Instead of saying, “I'm angry with you,” a person
who acts out may instead throw a book at the person, or punch
a hole through a wall.
3. Introjection: unconscious adoption of the thoughts or
personality traits of others. It occurs as a normal part of
development, such as a child taking on parental values and
attitudes. It can also be a defense mechanism in situations
that arouse anxiety.An example of introjection might be a
dad telling his son “boys don't cry”- this is an idea that a
person might take in from their environment and internalize
into their way of thinking
C. Neurotic Defenses
These are common in apparently normal and healthy persons
as well as in neurotic disorders. They function usually in the
alleviation of distressing affects and may be expressed in
neurotic forms of behavior. Depending on circumstances, they
can also have an adaptive or socially acceptable aspect.
1. Displacement: Involves a purposeful, unconscious shifting of
impulses from one object to another in the interest of solving a
conflict. or
an individual transferring negative feelings from one person or
thing to another.
For example, a person who is angry at their boss may “take out”
their anger on a family member by shouting at them.
2.Repression:is the unconscious blocking of unpleasant
emotions, impulses, memories, and thoughts from the
conscious mind. Repression is often confused with
suppression, suppression is entirely voluntary. Specifically,
suppression is deliberately trying to forget or not think about
painful or unwanted thoughts.
Example:being abused as a child but not remembering the
abuse.
3. Rationalization: A justification of unacceptable attitudes,
beliefs, or behavior.
Or it involves explaining an unacceptable behavior or feeling
in a rational or logical manner, avoiding the true reasons for
the behavior.
D. Narcissistic Defenses
These defenses are usually found as part of a psychotic
process, but may also occur in young children and adult dreams
or fantasies. They share the common note of avoiding,
negating, or distorting reality.
1. Projection: projection involves attributing one’s own
unacknowledged feelings to others. Projection operates
correlatively to introjection, such that the material of the
projection derives from the internalized but usually unconscious
configuration of the subject’s introjects.

Example: Feeling attracted to someone other than your wife,

then fearing that your wife is cheating on you
2. Denial: involves ignoring the reality of a situation to avoid
anxiety.
Example: Being the victim of a violent crime, yet denying that
the incident occurred.
Thank you