DEFENCE

MECHANISM
INTRODUCTION

ANNA FREUD SIGMUND FREUD

 DEFINITION:-
Defence mechanism is a pattern of
adjustment through which an individual
relieves anxiety caused by an
uncomfortable situation that threaten
self-esteem. When these defence
mechanisms are used moderately are
harmless but excessive and persistent
defence use is harmful
COMPENSATION
Compensation is a pattern by which tension or
anxiety relieved by an individual make up for
personal weakness.
 SUBSTITUTION
It is a mechanism by which tension or anxiety reduced by
replacing the unachievable goal with achievable goal.
 SUBLIMATION
It is a mechanism that causes channelization of socially unacceptable
desires into acceptable form. In this mechanism primitive impulses are
transferred or directed to a socially useful goal.
 RATIONALIZATION
It is a defence mechanism in which an individual justifies his failures
and socially unacceptable feelings and behaviours by making excuses
or formulate logical reasons / socially approved reasons.
 REPRESSION
Repression is a process of unconscious forgetfulness of our
unpleasant experiences.
 UNDOING
Undoing is the act symbolically cancelling or reversing out a
previous act which is unacceptable.
IDENTIFICATION
Through this process, an individual attempts to increase self-worth by
acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one
admires.
TRANSFERENCE
In transference, the image of one person is unconsciously
identified with that of another.
INTELLECTUALIZATION
Intellectualization is an attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions
associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes
of logic, reasoning and analysis.
INTROJECTIONU
In introjection the values and characteristics of significant persons are
incorporated in one’s personality.
NEGATIVE
DEFENECE
MECHANISM
 SUPPRESSION
voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s
awareness to avoid discomfort and anxiety.
DISPLACEMENT
unconsciously emotional feeling is transferred to person or
object who are less dangerous than those who initially aroused
the emotion.
PROJECTION
Placing blame for own difficulties upon others
 REGRESSION
immature way of responding to a stress or go backwards
 FIXATION
Fixation refers to the point in the individual’s development at
which certain aspects of the emotional development do not
advance.
 FANTASY
Fantasy is used to gratify frustrated desires by imaginary achievements
and wishful thinking. The tendency of day dreaming is most common
during adolescence.
REACTION FORMATION
In this defence mechanism the unacceptable real feelings are
repressed and acceptable opposite feelings are expressed.
 CONVERSION
In this pattern of defence mechanism strong emotional
conflicts which are not expressed are converted into
physical symptoms.
 DENIAL
Any individual refuses to face the reality.
 "Bad things happened to me in my past, but I've
unconsciously buried them deep in my mind."
What defence mechanism am I demonstrating?
1. Projection
2. Denial
3. Identification
4. Repression
I'm so angry! I missed my bus, forgot my homework,
and then I was late for work again which got me a
warning. When I got home I punched a wall,
screamed at my mum for burning the beans, (how
can you burn beans?!). Then I kicked the cat."
What defence mechanism am I displaying?

1. Repression
2. Reaction Formation
3. Rationalisation
4. Displacement
Everyone around me thinks they're big, funny and
clever. They're all telling me my goldfish Swimmy has
died. They even thought I'd be fooled by flushing a
pretend one down the toilet. She's only hiding
because she's cold. But it's ok... I put boiling water in
there so she could warm up."
What defence mechanism does this show?

1. Withdrawal
2. Denial
3. Rationalisation
4. Projection
"I failed my maths exam, but I'm not that bothered.
It wasn't my fault; it was Mr Lobb who can't teach. If
he can't be bothered then why should I revise? I
won't need maths in the future anyway."
What defence mechanism does this display?

1. Regression
2. Reaction Formation
3. Rationalisation
4. Denial
"There is this girl at work who I hate so much. She's
intimidating, disrespectful and offensive. Strangely,
she's now one of my best friends and we get on
really well. Now I can't remember what I thought of
her in the first place."
What defence mechanism does this reveal?

1. Withdrawal
2. Reaction Formation
3. Sublimation
4. Projection
Argh, my mother-in-law has come to stay for the
weekend and she's driving me crazy. I'm just staying
out of the way by doing the housework and
washing up so that I'm not dragged into an
argument about how much of a bad wife and
mother I am."
What defence mechanism does this illustrate?

1. Rationalisation
2. Sublimation
3. Denial
4. Repression
The way she spoke to me was completely
unacceptable, but she's going through a tough time
at the moment. I'd react the same way if my
mother had just died."

What defence mechanism am I expressing?

1. Repression
2. Regression
3. Identification
4. Displacement
I'm sure my boyfriend has been cheating on me.
When I find out he'll be sorry. Oh yeah and I need
to buy my husband a birthday present..."
What defence mechanism am I experiencing?

1. Withdrawal
2. Projection
3. Denial
4. Reaction Formation
It's so unfair! My mum doesn't care how much I cry
and scream, she won't get me a car. She doesn't
even care about me! She hates me!"
What defence mechanism does this demonstrate?

1. Sublimation
2. Rationalisation
3. Repression
4. Regression
"I split up with my boyfriend and everything
reminds me of him. So I quit my job, dropped out
of college and I don't go out anymore. Drugs and
drink are the only way I can escape these
thoughts."
What defence mechanism am I experiencing?

1. Identification
2. Withdrawal
3. Projection
4. Rationalisation