Defense mechanism

Sigmund Freud (1894, 1896) noted a number of ego defenses, which he refers to throughout
his written works. His daughter Anna Freud (1936) developed these ideas and elaborated on
them, adding ten of her own. Many psychoanalysts have also added further types of ego
defenses.

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that are unconsciously used to protect a
person from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings. According to Freudian
theory, defense mechanismss involve a distortion of reality in one way so that we are better
able to cope with a situation

10 Defense Mechanisms: What Are They And How They Help Us Cope
We use defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety or guilt, which
arise because we feel threatened, or because our id or superego becomes too demanding.

Defense mechanisms operate at an unconscious level and help ward off unpleasant feelings
(i.e., anxiety) or make good things feel better for the individual.

Ego-defense mechanisms are natural and normal. When they get out of proportion (i.e.,
used with frequency), neuroses develop, such as anxiety states, phobias, obsessions, or
hysteria.

Here are a few common defense mechanisms: There are a large number of defense
mechanisms; the main ones are summarized below.

Denial

Denial is a defense mechanism proposed by Anna Freud which involves a refusal to accept
reality, thus blocking external events from awareness.If a situation is just too much to handle,
the person may respond by refusing to perceive it or by denying that it exists.As you might
imagine, this is a primitive and dangerous defense – no one disregards reality and gets away
with it for long! It can operate by itself or, more commonly, in combination with other, more
subtle mechanisms that support it.

What is an example of denial?

Many people use denial in their everyday lives to avoid dealing with painful feelings or areas
of their life they don’t wish to admit.For example, a husband may refuse to recognize obvious
signs of his wife’s infidelity. A student may refuse to recognize their obvious lack of
preparedness for an exam!
Repression
Repression is an unconscious defense mechanism employed by the ego to keep disturbing or
threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.

Repression, which Anna Freud also called “motivated forgetting,” is just that: not being able
to recall a threatening situation, person, or event. Thoughts that are often repressed are
those that would result in feelings of guilt from the superego.

This is not a very successful defense in the long term since it involves forcing disturbing
wishes, ideas or memories into the unconscious, where, although hidden, they will create
anxiety.Repressed memories may appear through subconscious means and in altered forms,
such as dreams or slips of the tongue (Freudian slips).

What is an example of repression?

For example, in the oedipus complex, aggressive thoughts about the same sex parents are
repressed and pushed down into the unconscious.

Projection

Projection is a psychological defense mechanism proposed by Anna Freud in which an

individual attributes unwanted thoughts, feelings and motives onto another person.

Projection, which Anna Freud also called displacement outward, is almost the complete
opposite of turning against the self. It involves the tendency to see your own unacceptable
desires in other people.

In other words, the desires are still there, but they’re not your desires anymore.

What is an example of projection?

Thoughts most commonly projected onto another are the ones that would cause guilt such
as aggressive and sexual fantasies or thoughts.

For instance, you might hate someone, but your superego tells you that such hatred is
unacceptable. You can ‘solve’ the problem by believing that they hate you.

Displacement

Displacement is the redirection of an impulse (usually aggression) onto a powerless substitute

target. The target can be a person or an object that can serve as a symbolic substitute.
Displacement occurs when the Id wants to do something which the Superego does not
permit. The Ego thus finds some other way of releasing the psychic energy of the Id. Thus
there is a transfer of energy from a repressed object-cathexis to a more acceptable object.

Turning against the self is a very special form of displacement, where the person becomes
their own substitute target.

It is normally used in reference to hatred, anger, and aggression, rather than more positive
impulses, and it is the Freudian explanation for many of our feelings of inferiority, guilt, and
depression.

The idea that depression is often the result of the anger we refuse to acknowledge is
accepted by many people, Freudians and non-Freudians alike.

What is an example of displacement?

Someone who feels uncomfortable with their sexual desire for a real person may substitute a
fetish.

Someone who is frustrated by his or her superiors may go home and kick the dog, beat up a
family member, or engage in cross-burnings.

Regression

Regression is a defense mechanism proposed by Anna Freud whereby the the ego reverts to
an earlier stage of development usually in response to stressful situations.
Regression functions as a form of retreat, enabling a person to psychologically go back in
time to a period when the person felt safer.

What is an example of regression?

When we are troubled or frightened, our behaviors often become more childish or
primitive.A child may begin to suck their thumb again or wet the bed when they need to
spend some time in the hospital. Teenagers may giggle uncontrollably when introduced into
a social situation involving the opposite sex.

Sublimation
Sublimation is similar to displacement, but takes place when we manage to displace our
unacceptable emotions into behaviors which are constructive and socially acceptable, rather
than destructive activities. Sublimation is one of Anna Freud’s original defense mechanisms.

Sublimation for Freud was the cornerstone of civilized life, as arts and science are all
sublimated sexuality. (NB. this is a value-laden concept, based on the aspirations of
European society at the end of the 1800 century).

What is an example of sublimation?

Many great artists and musicians have had unhappy lives and have used the medium of art of
music to express themselves. Sport is another example of putting our emotions (e.g.,
aggression) into something constructive.

For example, fixation at the oral stage of development may later lead to seeking oral pleasure
as an adult through sucking one’s thumb, pen or cigarette. Also, fixation during the anal
stage may cause a person to sublimate their desire to handle faeces with an enjoyment of
pottery.

Rationalization

Rationalization is a defense mechanism proposed by Anna Freud involving a cognitive

distortion of “the facts” to make an event or an impulse less threatening. We do it often
enough on a fairly conscious level when we provide ourselves with excuses.

But for many people, with sensitive egos, making excuses comes so easy that they never are
truly aware of it. In other words, many of us are quite prepared to believe our lies.

What is an example of rationalization?

When a person finds a situation difficult to accept, they will make up a logical reason why it
has happened. For example, a person may explain a natural disaster as “God’s will”.

Reaction Formation

Reaction formation, which Anna Freud called “believing the opposite,” is a psychological
defense mechanism in which a person goes beyond denial and behaves in the opposite way
to which he or she thinks or feels.

Conscious behaviors are adopted to overcompensate for the anxiety a person feels regarding
their socially unacceptable unconscious thoughts or emotions.
Usually, a reaction formation is marked by exaggerated behavior, such as showiness and
compulsiveness.

By using the reaction formation, the id is satisfied while keeping the ego in ignorance of the
true motives.

Therapists often observe reaction formation in patients who claim to strongly believe in
something and become angry at everyone who disagrees.

What is an example of reaction formation?

Freud claimed that men who are prejudiced against homosexuals are making a defense
against their own homosexual feelings by adopting a harsh anti-homosexual attitude which
helps convince them of their heterosexuality.

Another example of reaction formation includes the dutiful daughter who loves her mother is
reacting to her Oedipus hatred of her mother.

Introjection

Introjection, sometimes called identification, involves taking into your own personality
characteristics of someone else, because doing so solves some emotional difficulty.

Introjection is very important to Freudian theory as the mechanism by which we develop our
superegos.

What is an example of introjection?

A child who is left alone frequently, may in some way try to become “mom” in order to lessen
his or her fears. You can sometimes catch them telling their dolls or animals not to be afraid.
And we find the older child or teenager imitating his or her favorite star, musician, or sports
hero in an effort to establish an identity.

Identification With The Aggressor

Identification with the aggressor is a defense mechanism proposed by Sandor Ferenczi and
later developed by Anna Freud.

It involves the victim adopting the behavior of a person who is more powerful and hostile
towards them.
By internalizing the behavior of the aggressor the “victim” hopes to avoid abuse, as the
aggressor may begin to feel an emotional connection with the victim which leads to feelings
of empathy.

What is an example of identification with the aggressor?

Identification with the aggressor is a version of introjection that focuses on the adoption, not
of general or positive traits, but of negative or feared traits. If you are afraid of someone, you
can partially conquer that fear by becoming more like them.

An extreme example is Stockholm Syndrome, where hostages establish an emotional bond

with their captor(s) and take on their behaviors.

Patty Hearst was abused by her captors, yet she joined their Symbionese Liberation Army and
even took part in one of their bank robberies. At her trial, she was acquitted because she
was a victim suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.