Defense Mechanisms

Definition: A mental
maneuver that one
consciously or
unconsciously chooses
to use to distort or
falsify the truth of ones
experience in order to
protect oneself from
feeling painful emotions
like shame, guilt, or
anxiety.
Defence Mechanisms
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious mental processes used to protect the ego
against anxiety, shame or other unacceptable feelings or
thoughts.

Freud and Defence Mechanisms
Freud states we tend to deal with problems in the
unconscious mind by using defence mechanisms.
LYING
One doesnt tell the truth
for either self-gain or to
spare feeling ridicule,
rejection, or punishment.
Phrases like I swear I
didnt do it, or It doesnt
mean anything are often
used when we know we
havent lived up to our
higher selves.
In what circumstances do
you think people lie the
most?
RATIONALIZATION
Occurs when we tell an
element of the truth, but
deny the larger truth of the
matter.
For example, I could
have won the race but the
track was wet. The
larger truth was that
someone was faster.
I got fired, but the boss
was a jerk. Failures are
a threat to the ego
rationalization doesnt hurt
as bad.
REGRESSION
When adult defense
mechanisms stop working
for us, we regress to a
personality we had at
childhood.
For example, when an
adult doesnt take
responsibility, he says,
Its not my fault, its her
fault.
Immature patterns of
behavior emerge such as
bragging.
REPRESSION
The person forces the
unacceptable or threatening
feeling out of awareness to a
point where he/she becomes
unaware of it.
Examples could be a simple
reprimand or as serious as a
rape.
A person is asked, how do you
get along with your mother and
he responds, just fine as he
turns pale. Negative feelings
about the mother are so
unacceptable that they block
his awareness.

DENIAL
The person doesnt
acknowledge the validity
of the matter but
acknowledges its
presence. They oppose
force with force.
For example, the alcoholic
expresses, I may like to
drink, but Im not an
alcoholic.
Or a smoker concludes
that the evidence linking
cigarette use to health
problems is bogus.
SUPPRESSION
The person is aware of
the unacceptable desire
and validates it but
intentionally tries to keep
it from expressing itself.
For example, I know Im
an alcoholic so Im going
on the wagon.
An introvert is conditioned
to be an extrovert.
He often suppress anger.
PROJECTION
The person attributes
ones own perceived
negative attributes onto
someone else.
For example, Bill blames
the instructor for a bad
grade when he didnt
study.

Sam cheats on his spouse
and blames the spouse
for cheating.
Which Defense Mechanisms Do
You Use the Most?
Lying
Rationalization
Distraction
Regression
Repression
Denial
Suppression
Projection
Remove Defense Mechanisms by
Reading about them
Writing about your feelings and actions
Talking to a close friend or therapist
Meditating
Praying

Name the Defense Mechanism
Joe is mad at Sue as he grits his teeth. Sue asks,
are you mad at me, and he replies, No, Im not mad
at all as he puts a smile on his face.
Name the Defense Mechanism
The person who doesnt study says, the F grade I
got on the test was totally unfair.
Name the Defense Mechanism
Karl, a tax accountant teacher instructs his students
to follow the rules of tax law but later Karl cheats on
his taxes.
Name the Defense Mechanism
Bill Gates tells you your reply is illogical and you
reply, youre the illogical one! Im smarter than you
anyway.
Name the Defense Mechanism
Cheating on my taxes is no big deal. Everybody
does it