Defense Mechanisms Freud's daughter, Anna, summarized several ego defenses in The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense (1936).

All defenses involve distortions of reality; feeling better by fooling ourselves Sometimes dreams, slips of the tongue or humor reveal our unconscious motives.

Coping vs Defense Coping processes are conscious, intentional, learned, and associated with normal adjustment. Defense mechanisms are unconscious, unintentional, self-protective instincts or dispositions

Repression shoving thoughts and urges into our unconscious Suppression is more conscious and deals with unpleasant, not as painful

Regression resorting to earlier ways of acting or feeling, although no longer appropriate Throwing a temper tantrum Under stress an adult might curl up in bed, suck their thumb, and clutch their old teddy bear.

Denial refusing to admit or face a threatening situation. can be unconscious - a dying person refuses to admit s/he is person with heart condition denies overeating or smoking is bad refusing to see problem in a relationship when obvious to others.

Rationalization Giving excuses for shortcomings, avoiding self-condemnation, disappointments, or criticism by others “They won't miss it.” “Everybody does it."

No Grad School – “I would have hated five more years anyway." This is called "sour grapes," from Aesop's fable.

Reverse is "sweet lemons," everything happens for the best, "failing the GRE's was a blessing in disguise”

Displacement Redirecting our impulses (often anger) from real target to safer but innocent person

Displacement "turning-against-self.“ instead of hatred being turned on loved one, it could be turned against oneself. a commonly assumed dynamic in depression and suicide.

Fantasy Daydreams, novels, TV Soaps- - escapes, to avoid worries or boredom. We imagine success when we feel unsuccessful.

Fantasy fantasies may express feelings we need to get off our chest. Fantasy only a defense when an escape.

Fantasy self-help: rehearsal, desensitization, venting feelings, decision making Fantasy may be part of the problem or the solution.

Projection Attributing to others our own unacceptable thoughts, feelings. The spouse, tempted to have an affair, suspects partner has been unfaithful

Compensation or substitution try to make up for feeling of inadequate by excelling unattractive student becomes outstanding scholar average student becomes outstanding athlete unsatisfying marriage - becomes deeply involved with the children.

Compensation or substitution Many compensatory substitutions are good ways of handling stress; some are not, as when an unloved teenager seeks love promiscuously.

Reaction formation a denial and reversal of feelings. Love turns into hate or hate into love intense friction converted into exaggerated shows of affection, sometimes sickeningly sweet and overly polite

Reaction formation loud, macho male concealing (from self) homosexual urges TV preachers, crusade against "loose morals" - struggling with own sexual impulses

Sublimation transforming unacceptable needs into acceptable ambition and actions. convert compelling need for parent's attention to drive to do well in school. Sexual drives can be pored into sports. Anger /resentment of advantages of others funneled into obsession of lucrative career