Defense Mechanisms
Here is a structured table summarizing various defense mechanisms typically described in psychology. This compilation is informed by classical and contemporary sources on psychological concepts:
| Defense Mechanism | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Repression | Unconsciously blocking unpleasant memories or feelings. | A person who experienced a traumatic event as a child may have no memory of it later. |
| Denial | Refusing to accept reality or facts to avoid emotional pain. | A smoker refusing to acknowledge the health risks associated with smoking. |
| Projection | Attributing one’s own undesirable thoughts or feelings to others. | Accusing someone else of being angry when it’s actually you who are feeling angry. |
| Displacement | Redirecting emotions from a threatening target to a safer one. | A frustrated employee yells at their family instead of their boss. |
| Sublimation | Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities. | Using aggressive impulses to excel in sports or rigorous exercise. |
| Rationalization | Creating logical excuses for irrational or unacceptable behavior. | Justifying cheating on a test by claiming that everyone else does it. |
| Regression | Reverting to childlike behaviors under stress. | An adult throws a tantrum when things don’t go their way. |
| Reaction Formation | Behaving in a way opposite to what one truly feels. | Treating someone you dislike in an excessively friendly manner. |
| Identification | Adopting the characteristics or behaviors of someone else. | A teenager dressing and acting like their favorite celebrity. |
| Introjection | Internalizing the beliefs and standards of others as your own. | A child adopts the same prejudices held by their parents without questioning them. |
| Intellectualization | Using logic and reasoning to avoid emotional discomfort. | Focusing on the technical details of a loved one’s funeral to avoid grief. |
| Compensation | Striving to excel in one area to make up for shortcomings in another. | A person with poor athletic ability works hard to become an outstanding student. |
| Fantasy | Retreating to an imaginary world to escape reality. | Daydreaming about a perfect life when reality feels overwhelming. |
| Splitting | Viewing people or situations as all good or all bad without nuance. | Alternating between idolizing and devaluing someone in a close relationship. |
| Undoing | Trying to reverse or undo a thought or behavior that is unacceptable. | Giving a gift to someone after insulting them to make up for the offense. |
These mechanisms allow individuals to manage conflicts between their id, ego, and superego, as per Freudian theory, or to cope with stress and internal conflicts in broader psychological contexts.