DEFENSE MECHANISMS BEAU BENHARDT Teacher page

We all use Defense Mechanisms. They enable us to deal with stressful situations in our daily lives. However, failure to realize their existence, and overuse of them can lead to problems with our ability to face reality.

Most commonly used Defense Mechanisms Rationalization- Attempt to justify one’s actions with an excuse rather than admitting one’s failure or mistake. Denial- Belief in a falsehood, rather than accept the reality of the truth.

Projection- Blaming unpleasant feelings or inappropriate actions on others. Escape- Running away from a problem. Repression- Blocking out thoughts about unpleasant things or experiences.

Most Commonly used Defense Mechanisms Identification- Acting like or modeling someone’s behavior. Associating someone else’s accomplishments as your own. Displacement- Expressing feeling toward someone or something not associated with the source of the feelings.

Commonly used Defense Mechanisms Regression- Returning to an earlier means of dealing with frustration or an earlier, less threatening, time that required less responsibility. Compensation- Attempt to make up for a lack of something or some ability by getting or achieving something else.

Sublimation- Transforming unacceptable behaviors into acceptable ones.

In your journal, identify the Defense Mechanism described in the proceeding paragraphs.

John was late for practice because he overslept. When asked by his coach the reason for his tardiness, he responded that he could not get a ride to practice.

ANSWER RATIONALIZATION

MARY WOULD NOT BELIEVE THAT JIM WAS SEEING OTHER GIRLS. EVEN WHEN HER FRIEND SUE CALLD TO SAY SHE HAD BEEN OUT WITH HIM.

ANSWER DENIAL

REGGIE WAS UPSET WHEN HE HEARD THE NAME THE PLAYER FROM THE OTHER TEAM CALLED HIM. HE CHANNELED HIS ANGER AND ON THE NEXT PLAY SACKED THE QUARTERBACK.

ANSWER SUBLIMATION

JANE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET TO WORK. SHE WAS GOING 90 M.P.H. WHEN THE HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOPPED HER. AS HE APPROACHED THE CAR TO WRITE HER A TICKET, SHE STARTED TO CRY.

ANSWER REGRESSION

CLANCY WAS SO UPSET UPON HEARING THE NEWS OF HIS GIRLFRIEND’S BETRAYAL HE PUNCHED THE KITCHEN WALL AND BROKE HIS HAND.

ANSWER DISPLACEMENT

LESSON 2 Now we are going to reverse the process. I will state a Defense Mechanism and you must write a descriptive paragraph illustrating how it’s used.

EXAMPLE: Lucy was upset when Alice, the new girl in school, started to hang around with her friends. Lucy was afraid that her friends were being stolen from her. She did not talk to Alice, and tried to insult her whenever possible. One of Lucy’s friends asked her why she did not like Alice. She responded, that Alice did not like her, she was stuck up, and not very friendly.

EXAMPLE: Don was not physically attractive and he knew it. In order to make himself look better he always dressed in the finest clothes money could buy.

EXAMPLE: Lou was out to make the football team and had an excellent chance of starting. Unfortunately, when the coach checked his grades, it was discovered that he had 4 F’s, and was ineligible. The coach asked him why he had wasted his time trying out for the team when his grades were so bad. He said that he wasn’t aware that he had done so poorly.

EXAMPLE: Sally became a big fan of the Cardinal baseball team. She wore a jersey and hat almost all the time. She beamed with pride whenever they won a game, and became visibly upset whenever they lost.

THE END

TEACHER PAGE: Objective: The students will gain insight into what Defense Mechanisms are, and how and why they are used. Activity: In lesson one the student will read the paragraph and write down the Defense Mechanism illustrated. In lesson two the students will view the Defense Mechanism and write their own paragraphs describing its use. Process: The teacher will read each slide to the students. Click the mouse after each slide is completed. When using lesson 1, give the students at least 1 minute to think of their answers before moving to the next slide. In lesson 2, the time span should be lengthened to at least 5 minutes per slide. You may wish to split these two lessons up.