Defense mechanism
- 1. DEFENSE MECHANISM PRESENTED BY: Nancy Maurya (Bsc.hons Nsg 3rd yr)
- 7. Why do we need Ego defenses?
- 8. NEED OF DEFENSE MECHANISM 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.
- 9. 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.
- 10. CLASSIFICATIONS
- 14. 1.DENIAL Failure to acknowledge an unbearable condition; failure to admit the reality of a situation or how one enables the problem to continue ·
- 15. What is an example of denial? For example, a husband may refuse to recognise obvious signs of his wife’s infidelity. A student may refuse to recognise their obvious lack of preparedness for an exam!
- 16. 2. REGRESSION Moving back to a previous developmental stage to feel safe or have needs met · . Five-year-old asks for a bottle when new baby brother is being fed. · Man pouts like a 4-year-old if he is not the center of his girlfriend’s attention.
- 18. 3. ACTING OUT Acting out is a defense mechanism used when one is unable to manage a conflicted mental content by means of thought and by putting it into words.
- 19. ● Example: Self injury is expresssion through physical pain of what can't be stand to feel emotionally.
- 20. 4.DISSOCIATION
- 21. EXAMPLE 1.Amnesia that prevents recall of yesterday’s auto accident · 2.Adult remembers nothing of childhood sexual abuse.
- 22. 5. COMPARTMENTALIZATION compartmentalization is defined as a defense mechanism where someone suppresses their thoughts and emotions. It is not always done consciously but this can often justify or defend a person's level of engagement in certain behaviors.
- 23. EXAMPLE a manager can think of himself as nurturing and sensitive at home, but a hard-nosed tough guy at work
- 24. 6.PROJECTION Unconscious blaming of unacceptable inclinations or thoughts on an external object · EXAMPLE: Man who has thought about same-gender sexual relationship, but never had one, beats a man who is gay. · Person with many prejudices loudly identifies others as bigots.
- 26. 7. REACTION FORMATION Acting the opposite of what one thinks or feels ·
- 29. 1.REPRESSION Excluding emotionally painful or anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness · Woman has no memory of the mugging she suffered yesterday. · Woman has no memory before age 7, when she was removed from abusive parents.
- 30. 2.DISPLACEMENT Ventilation of intense feelings toward persons less threatening than the one who aroused those feelings . Example · Person who is mad at the boss yells at his or her spouse. · Child who is harassed by a bully at school mistreats a younger sibling.
- 31. 3. INTELLECTUALISATION Separation of the emotions of a painful event or situation from the facts involved; acknowledging the facts but not the emotions . Eg. · Person shows no emotional expression when discussing serious car accident.
- 32. 4. RATIONALIZATION Excusing own behavior to avoid guilt, responsibility, conflict, anxiety, or loss of self-respect · Student blames failure on teacher being mean. · Man says he beats his wife because she doesn’t listen to him.
- 33. 5. UNDOING Exhibiting acceptable behavior to make up for or negate unacceptable behavior · Person who cheats on a spouse brings the spouse a bouquet of roses. · Man who is ruthless in business donates large amounts of money to charity.
- 34. MATURE DEFENSE
- 36. 1.SUBLIMATION Substituting a socially acceptable activity for an impulse that is unacceptable · Person who has quit smoking sucks on hard candy when the urge to smoke arises. · Person goes for a 15-minute walk when tempted to eat junk food.
- 38. 2. COMPENSATION Overachievement in one area to offset real or perceived deficiencies in another area . · Nurse with low self- esteem working double shifts so her supervisor will like her
- 39. 3.AFFILIATION Affiliation involves dealing with stressors by turning to others for help or support. This involves sharing problems with others but not trying to make someone else responsible for them. ● Going to therapy, a support group, spirtual counselling.
- 40. 4. SELF ASSERTION Self-Assertion involves dealing with stress by expressing your feelings and thoughts directly in a way that is not aggressive, coercive, or manipulative.
- 41. 4.ALTRUISM
- 42. 5.SUPPRESSION
- 43. 6. ANTICIPATION