DEFENSE MECHANISMS

What is a defense Mechanism?

• Answer: • Your response to the environment around you.• Ways that people react to stressful situations

There are healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with problems.

Is it healthy to use a defense mechanism?

• A defense mechanism is only a problem when its persistent use leads to behavior that effects mental or physical health.

Why do people use defense mechanisms?

• The purpose of the Ego Defense Mechanism is to protect the mind/self/ego from anxiety, social sanctions or to provide a refuge from a situation with which one cannot currently cope.

• >>> In simple terms: You use this to make it through an uncomfortable situation you don’t think you can deal with.

What is your response to the environment when…• 1. Your car breaks down?• 2. A family member dies?• 3. You get promoted?• 4. You get that perfect date?

Denial• You choose not to accept what is happening or what has

happened in order to make it through the situation.

Direct Attack• A response to a threat to your self-esteem. You attack the

source that attacked you.

Compensation• Using a different method to achieve the same goal.

• Example: Sam is bad at basketball so he tries baseball instead.

Rationalization• Explaining your weaknesses or

failures by giving socially acceptable excuses.

• Example: Failing a test and blaming it on the subject matter or the teacher rather than not studying.

Rationalization cont.

Projection/ Scapegoat

Displacement• When you transfer emotion connected with one person to

an unrelated person or thing.

• Example: Someone who abuses their pets or family members after a bad day at work.

Conversion• Transfer the energy of a desire you cannot express into a

physical symptom or complaint

• Example: Sweaty hands because you are nervous.

Regression• Revert back to a less mature stage of life.

Idealization• Value something far more than it’s worth.

• This thing could be yourself and you begin to act conceded.

Daydreaming• Accomplish something in your imagination that you cannot

accomplish in reality.

• Example: Dreaming about becoming a movie star.

Giving Up• Discouraged with feelings that the world is against you.