Defense Mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms
What are psychological defense mechanisms?

They are psychological strategies used by individuals (and by extension--groups of individuals and even entire nations at times) to cope with reality and to maintain his/her self -image intact.
I. Level 1 Defense Mechanisms: - Almost always pathological;

for the user these three defenses permit someone to rearrange external reality (and therefore not have to cope with reality); for the beholder, the users of these mechanisms frequently appear crazy or insane. These are the "psychotic" defenses, common in overt psychosis, in dreams, and throughout childhood. They include:
A. Denial: a refusal to accept external reality because it is too

threatening. Person not admits the painful intolerant external reality and so what can not be perceived do not exist and so can not be painful. There are examples of denial being adaptive (for example, a mother of a child with mental retardation denying that her child is sick. On the pathological level (when denial distort the reality) as in schizophrenic subject deny the presence of his mother
B. Distortion: a gross reshaping of external reality to meet internal

needs. Unrealistic megalomaniac beliefs, or wish fulfilling delusions are examples of such defense mechanism.
C. Delusional Projection: perceiving and reacting to unacceptable

inner impulses as outside the self. Frank delusion, usually of a persecutory nature, about external reality is a pathological example of projection defenses.
II. Level 2 Defense Mechanisms: are seen frequently in adults

and are common in adolescents. For the user these mechanism alter distress and anxiety caused by reality or other people; while for the beholder, people who use such defenses are seen as socially undesirable, immature, difficult and out of touch. They are considered "immature" defenses and almost always lead to serious problems in a person's ability to cope with the world. They include:
A. Fantasy: tendency to retreat into fantasy in order to resolve

inner and outer conflicts
B. Projection: attributing one's own unacknowledged feelings to

others; includes severe prejudice, severe jealousy, hypervigilance to external danger, and rejection of intimacy through suspiciousness.
C. Hypochondriasis: the transformation of negative feelings

towards others into negative feelings toward self.
D. Passive Aggressive Behavior: aggression towards others

expressed indirectly and ineffectively through passivity. E.g. forgetting of appointment of a one you do not like.
E. Acting Out Behavior: direct expression of an unconscious wish

or impulse to avoid being conscious of the emotion that accompanies it. So it is responsible on gratifying the impulses more than stopping it.
III. Level 3 Defense Mechanisms: are often considered

"neurotic, they can have short-term advantages in coping, but they often cause long-term problems in relationships, work, and enjoyment of life for people who primarily use them as their basic style of coping with the world. They include:
A. Repression: unconscious forgetting of painful experience

causing guilt or tension. It differ from the usual forgetting as it is an active mental process that require mental energy and it can still direct the behavior unconsciously. E.g. repressed self-punishment by loosing self-objects.
B. Reaction Formation: expression of the reverse of one's real

impulses. The behavior will be completely the opposite of what one really wants or feels (e.g., taking care of someone when what one really wants is to be taken care of; studying to be a pilot to cover-up being afraid to fly).
C. Displacement: separation of emotion from its real object and

redirection of the intense emotion toward someone or something that is less offensive or threatening.
D. Regression: a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality

by assuming a more infantile state. It is a return to a previous stage of development to avoid the anxiety involved in later stages. The use of the "immature Defenses" (Levels 1, 2, 3) is
related to:
1. Poor adjustment as an adult 2. Higher divorce rates and marital discord 3. Poor friendship patterns 4. Higher incidence of mental illnesses 5. Greater number of sick leave days taken 6. Poorer general health
IV. Level 4 Defense Mechanisms: are common among most

"healthy" adults and are considered the most "mature". Use of these defenses gives the user pleasure and feelings of mastery. They include:
A. Sublimation: change the aims from a socially objectionable one

to a socially valued one. It leads to transformation of negative emotions or instincts into positive actions, behavior, or emotion e.g. art, sports, hobbies, or even one's choice of profession
B. Altruism: constructive service to others that brings pleasure and

personal satisfaction
C. Suppression: the conscious decision to delay paying attention to

an emotion or need in order to cope with the present reality; able to later access the emotion and accept it.
D. Anticipation: realistic planning for future discomfort E. Humor: overt expression of ideas and feelings (especially those
that are unpleasant to focus on or too terrible to talk about) without personal discomfort and without unpleasant effect on others.
The use of the "mature defenses" (Level 4) is related to: 1. Excellent adjustment as an adult 2. Happiness (by self-report) 3. Job satisfaction 4. Rich friendships 5. Fewer hospitalizations over life 6. Better overall health 7. A lower incidence of mental illness.
When is a defense mechanism considered really "adaptive" and when is it considered "pathological"? What we call "mental illness" is actually a manifestation of an individual's pathological adaptive response to events in his/her life. Here is what makes a defense "pathological":
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
the defense is used in a rigid, inflexible, and exclusive manner the motivation for using the defense comes more from past needs than present or future reality the defense severely distorts the present situation use of the defense leads to significant problems in relationships, functioning, and enjoyment of life use of the defense impedes or distorts emotions and feelings, instead of rechanneling them effectively

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Defense Mechanisms

What are psychological defense mechanisms?

I. Level 1 Defense Mechanisms: - Almost always pathological;

A. Denial: a refusal to accept external reality because it is too

B. Distortion: a gross reshaping of external reality to meet internal

C. Delusional Projection: perceiving and reacting to unacceptable

II. Level 2 Defense Mechanisms: are seen frequently in adults

A. Fantasy: tendency to retreat into fantasy in order to resolve

B. Projection: attributing one's own unacknowledged feelings to

C. Hypochondriasis: the transformation of negative feelings

D. Passive Aggressive Behavior: aggression towards others

E. Acting Out Behavior: direct expression of an unconscious wish

III. Level 3 Defense Mechanisms: are often considered

A. Repression: unconscious forgetting of painful experience

B. Reaction Formation: expression of the reverse of one's real

C. Displacement: separation of emotion from its real object and

D. Regression: a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality

IV. Level 4 Defense Mechanisms: are common among most

A. Sublimation: change the aims from a socially objectionable one

B. Altruism: constructive service to others that brings pleasure and

C. Suppression: the conscious decision to delay paying attention to

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