Defense

Mechanisms
Baraa
Hind Nasser
Jumana
Nareeman
Khan
Rym Azzi
Sadia Furhad
Shaista

efense mechanisms
Are unconscious mental techniques used by
the ego to keep conflicts out of
consciousness, thus decreasing anxiety and
maintaining the individuals sense of
safety, equilibrium, and self-esteem.
All defenses are unconscious
Defenses change over time
Defenses are adaptive as well as
pathologic
Psychopathology issue of intensity and

Defense
Mechanism
s
Narcissit
ic

Immatur
e

Denial
Projection
Splitting

Blocking
Regression
Somatization
Identification

Anxiety
Displacement
Repression
Isolation of
affect
Acting out
Rationalization
Reaction
formation
Undoing
Passive
aggressive

Mature
Humor
Sublimation
Suppression

NARCISSTIC DEFENSE
Projection
Denial
Splitting

Denial
Denial is the
refusal to accept
reality or fact,
acting as if a
painful event,
thought or
feeling did not
exist

Projection
person attributes
his or her own
wishes, desires,
thoughts, or
emotions to
someone else.
Internal states are
perceived as a part
of someone else or
of the world in
general.

Splitting
aka all or nothing thinking, it can be the
splitting of mind and mental state
in this case patient thinks in black or white
forms, its either positive or negative,
good or bad, it can even be splitting of the
ego when the patient is existentially
insecure.

IMMATURE DEFENSE
Blocking
Regression
Somatization
Identification

Blocking

Temporary or transient block in

thinking, or an inability to
remember
During Exam

OMG!! I
cant
remember
question
7s
answer

After Exam
I just
remember
ed the
answer to
question 7

Regression
Regression involves taking the position of a child in some
problematic situation, rather than acting in a more adult
way.
Can be simple and harmless, like a person sucking a pen,
or may be more dysfunctional as crying or using moody
arguments.

Somatization
Psychic derivatives
are converted into
bodily symptoms.
Feelings are
manifest as
physical symptoms
rather than
psychological
distress.

dentification
Unconsciously patterning ones
behavior after that of someone
who is more powerful

. ANXIETY DEFENSE
Displacement
Repression
Isolation of
affect
Acting out
Rationalization
Reaction
formation
Undoing
Passive

isplacement

redirecting of thoughts feelings and impulses directed

at one person or object, but taken out upon another
person or object.

Repression
Repression is
the unconscious
blocking of
unacceptable
thoughts,
feelings and
impulses.

Isolation of
affect
Painful, troublesome, frightening feelings are
removed from thoughts forced from conscious
awareness
Split between
thoughts and
feelings.

Acting Out
Acting out is performing an extreme
behavior in order to express thoughts
or feelings the person feels incapable
of otherwise expressing.

Rationalization
Rationalization is putting something into a
different light or offering a different
explanation for ones perceptions or
behaviors in the face of a changing reality.

eaction formation
Reaction Formation is the
converting of unwanted
or dangerous thoughts,
feelings or impulses into
their opposites.

Undoing
Attempt to take back an unconscious behavior or
thought that is unacceptable or hurtful.

By undoing the previous

action, the person is attempting
to counteract the damage done by
the original comment, hoping the two will balance
one another out.

assive Aggressive
Non-verbal aggression that manifests in
negative behavior. It is when you are angry with
someone but do not/ cannot tell them.
It can either be covert (concealed and hidden)
or overt (blatant and obvious).

DISSOCIATION
Separates self from ones experience. Third
person rather than first person experience. Facts
of an event are acceptable, but the person is
protected from the full impact of the experience.

MATURE DEFENSE
Humor
Sublimation
Suppression

Humor

Expression of feeling without

causing discomfort
Its okay if I lost a leg
at least I can dress up
like a pirate now
hahahahahhahahaha
haha

Sublimation
the channeling of unacceptable
impulses, thoughts and emotions into
more acceptable ones
Humor

Action

Fantasy

Suppression
conscious decision
to postpone
attention to an
impulse or conflict.
Conscious set-up
and unconscious
follow through. The
suppressed content
temporarily resides
in the unconscious.

quiz

Question 1
Rocky Balboa often experiences intense
feelings of anger and frustration. In order to
cope with these feeling, he enrolls in a
boxing class as an outlet for his emotions.
Rocky's actions are an example of which
type of defense mechanism?
Sublimation
Projection
Displacement
Repression

Question 2
Eric Cartman complains about his job
duties at work, rarely completes assigned
tasks, and is regularly late for work. When
hes is fired, he claims it was due to his coworker Kyle badmouthing him instead of
blaming it on his own poor work
performance. Which defense mechanism
explains Cartman's reaction?
Displacement
Denial
Rationalization
Sublimation

Question 3
Betul dislikes public speaking. She stops
going to school, changes jobs, and declines
most social engagements to ensure that she
does not have to speak in public. Betul's
behavior is an example of which defense
mechanism?
Denial
Avoidance
Sublimation
Passive-aggression

Question 4
Gregory House's friends and family believe
that he has a drug addiction problem. When
House is confronted by his loved ones, he
claims that his drug taking is not
problematic. What type of defense
mechanism is House's response?
Repression
Rationalization
Denial
Displacement

Question 5
Red Forman has an argument with his
boss, but remains calm while at work.
When he gets home that evening, he
yells at his wife and son Eric. Which
defense mechanism is Red displaying?
Rationalization
Denial
Reaction formation
Displacement

Transference
NOT A DEFENSE
MECHANISM
The unconscious
transfer of feelings
and/or thoughts
between
individuals

Thank
you!