1. Defense Mechanisms Egos way of protecting you from threatening thoughts in our unconscious. NEVER consciously aware we are exhibiting these behaviors

2. Scenario Quarterback of the high school football team, Brandon, is dating Jasmine. Jasmine dumps Brandon and starts dating Drew, president of the chess club. DrewBrandon Jasmine

3. Repression Blocking thoughts from our conscious Seeps out in dreams and slip of the tongue moments When asked about Jasmine, Brandon may say “Who?, I have not thought about her for awhile.”

4. Denial Not accepting the ego-threatening truth. Brandon may act like he is still together with Jasmine. He may hang out by her locker and plan dates with her.

5. Displacement Redirecting sexual or aggressive feelings toward people/object that is less threatening Brandon may take his anger on another kid by bullying.

6. Projection When someone is threatened by or afraid of their own impulses, they attribute these impulses to someone else “He doesn’t trust me” really mean, “I don’t trust myself” or “I don’t trust him” “The thief thinks everyone else is the thief” Brandon insists that Jasmine still cares for him.

7. Reaction Formation Expressing the opposite of how one truly feels. Brandon claims he hates Jasmine

8. Regression Returning to an earlier, comforting form of behavior. Brandon begins to sleep with his favorite childhood stuffed animal (thumb sucking)

9. Rationalization Coming up with a beneficial result of an undesirable outcome. Brandon thinks he will find a better girlfriend. “Jasmine was not all that anyway!” Rejection letters: I really did want to go to ……..anyway, I bet it is too ……

10. Intellectualization Undertaking an academic, unemotional study of a topic. Brandon starts doing a research paper on how the bacon bowl increases your risk for a heart attack

11. Sublimation Channeling one’s frustration toward a different goal. Sometimes a “healthy” defense mechanism. Brandon starts to learn how to play the guitar and writing songs (or maybe starts to body build).