Defense Mechanisms - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

About This Presentation
Title:

Defense Mechanisms

Description:

Processes that operate at unconscious levels that use self-deception or untrue explanations to protect the ego from being overwhelmed by anxiety – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:183
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 24
Provided by: Harr2186
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Defense Mechanisms


1
Defense Mechanisms
  • Processes that operate at unconscious levels that
    use self-deception or untrue explanations to
    protect the ego from being overwhelmed by anxiety

2
1. Rationalization
  • Covering up the true reasons for actions,
    thoughts, or feelings by making up excuses and
    incorrect explanations
  • EX After being turned down for a date to the
    prom, you realize that you would rather hang out
    with your friends anyway

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
2. Denial
  • Refusing to recognize some anxiety-provoking
    event or piece of information that is clear to
    others
  • EX An alcoholic refuses to admit she has a
    problem

6
(No Transcript)
7
3. Repression
  • Blocking and pushing unacceptable or threatening
    feelings, wishes, or experiences into the
    unconscious (could be temporary or long-term)
  • Forgetting to go to a dentist appointment
  • Not remembering abuse

8
Repression
9
4. Projection
  • Falsely and unconsciously attributing your own
    unacceptable feelings, traits, or thoughts to
    individuals or objects
  • EX An angry spouse accuses the other spouse of
    being hostile
  • EX A spouse who has a desire to cheat accuses
    the other spouse of having an affair

10

11
5. Reaction Formation
  • Substituting behavior, thoughts, or feelings that
    are the direct opposite of unacceptable ones
  • EX A person with homosexual impulses claims to
    hate homosexuals
  • EX A mother who has an unwanted child becomes
    overly protective of that child

12

13
6. Displacement
  • Transferring feelings about, or response to, an
    object that causes anxiety to another person or
    object that is less threatening
  • EX Angry at his mother, he picks a fight with
    his girlfriend

14
(No Transcript)
15
7. Sublimation
  • Type of displacement involving redirecting a
    threatening or forbidden desire, usually sexual,
    into a socially acceptable one
  • EX After sexually frustrating experience you
    lift weights
  • EX A person with sadistic impulses becomes a
    dentist

16
(No Transcript)
17
8. Intellectualization
  • Ignoring the emotional aspects of a painful
    experience by focusing on abstract concepts,
    thoughts, words, or ideas (form of
    rationalization)
  • EX A person told they have cancer asks for
    details on the probability of survival and the
    success rates of various drugs
  • EX A person who is dumped compares his or her
    situation to literary characters in a detached
    manner

18
9. Identification
  • Bolstering self-esteem by forming and imaginary
    or real alliance with some person or group
  • EX Joining a fraternity to make up for
    insecurities
  • EX Unlucky with the ladies, Danny becomes an
    ardent Devils fan

19
10. Fantasy
  • Gratifying frustrated desires by imaginary
    achievements
  • EX The girlfriend in Canada
  • EX Thinking of a great comeback after the person
    has left

20
11. Overcompensation
  • Covering up felt weaknesses by emphasizing some
    desirable characteristic, or making up for
    frustration in one area by overgratification in
    another
  • EX A short person who picks fights with bigger
    people
  • EX Buying a large truck or sports car to cover
    insecurities

21
(No Transcript)
22
12. Regression
  • Returning to an earlier stage of development
  • EX Acting like a child when upset
  • EX A school age child starts wetting the bed
    when the baby sibling is born

23
(No Transcript)
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com