DEFENSE MECHANISMS

Created by Ms. Annjala Moni Mathews

Intern at Emotion of Life

Submitted to : Shyam Gupta

Psychologist & Therapist
• Defense mechanism was first used by Sigmund Freud.
• Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that are
unconsciously used to protect a person from anxiety arising from
unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
Projection:
Attributing one’s unacceptable feelings or desires to someone else.
For example, if a bully constantly ridicules a peer about insecurities, the bully might be projecting
his own struggle with self esteem onto the other person.

Denial:
A person would refuse to accept a situation or fact as the acceptance can lead to anxiety.
For example a person who smokes a lot won’t see the negative side of smoking.
Repression:
A person will block out those experiences which can bring negative emotions or consequences.
For example those experiences related to trauma.

Regression:
The person will redirect themselves to an earlier stage of development when faced with situation
that creates anxiety, etc.

Rationalization:
Justifying a mistake or problematic feeling with seemingly logical reasons or explanations.
For example eating a piece of cake when dieting and would think “it’s just one small cake and
would not affect the decision of dieting”.
Displacement:
The person will redirect their behavior to another person who are found to be not harmful, or less
powerful. For example- If a man gets shouting from his boss and gets angry. Since he can’t shout
back to his boss, he comes home and gets angry with his son.

Reaction Formation: 
Behaving or expressing the opposite of one’s true feelings.
For example: A man who feels insecure about his masculinity might act overly aggressive.

Sublimation:
Those frustrating behaviors are channeled out in different way.
For example, when getting angry one can vent it out through exercise.
Intellectualization:
Focusing on the intellectual rather than emotional consequences of a situation.
For example, if a roommate unexpectedly moved out, the other person might conduct a detailed
financial analysis rather than discussing their hurt feelings.

Compartmentalization: 
Separating components of one’s life into different categories to prevent conflicting emotions.
For example: When a woman behaves like a mother to her children and as a teacher to the
students in school and when she is keeping the problems of house away from school
compartmentalization occurs.
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