Prepared by: Rosmir Reyes Apalla

DEFENSE MECHANISM

 Defense Mechanisms are psychological

strategies that are unconsciously used to
protect a person from anxiety arising from
unacceptable thoughts or feelings.

 We use defense mechanisms -

-to minimize anxiety (A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease)
-to protect the ego (Sense of self-esteem or self-importance.)
-to maintain repression(The action of subduing someone or something
by force.)
DEFENSE MECHANISM
EXAMPLES OF DEFENSES
MECHANISMS
There are a large number of
defense
mechanisms; the main ones are summarized
below- 1. AGGRESSION
2. COMPENSATION
3. IDENTIFICATION
4. REALIZATION
5. DISPLACEMENT
6. REPRESSION
7. PROJECTION
8. DENIAL
 AGGRESSION

Aggression refers to forceful attacking activity that

can be in the form of either physical, verbal or
symbol. It arises from frustration where the
individual attempts or destroy the source of
frustration.

For Example- The boy who is insulted by his friend

attacks him physically.
 PROJECTION
Projection is a form of defense in which unwanted feelings
are displaced onto another person, where they then appear
as a threat from the external world
 COMPENSATION
In this mechanism, an individual tries to
balance or cover up his deficiency in one field by
exhibiting his strength in another field.

For example-A boy who is poor in academic

may
save his self-esteem by distinguishing himself in
athletics.
 DENIAL
Anna Freud (1936) proposed denial
involves
blocking external events from awareness.
For Example- smokers may
refuse
to admit to themselves that smoking is bad for
their health.
DISPLACEMENT