DEFENSE MECHANISMS

INDIRECT METHODS OF ACHIEVING MASLOW’S NEEDS

Defense Mechanisms

• Unconscious Acts

• Helps person deal with: – unpleasant situations or socially unacceptable

behaviors

Rationalization

• Use of a reasonable excuse or acceptable explanation for behavior

• In order to avoid the real reason or true motivation:

• Example: Patient who fears lab test may say” I can’t take time off from work to do this” rather than admit fear

Projection• Placing blame for one’s own actions or

inadequacies on someone or else or circumstances-rather than accepting responsibility for their own actions.

• Example: the teacher failed me because she doesn’t like me…rather than the actual reason…I didn't study/do the work etc.

• When people use projection they avoid having to admit they made the mistake

Displacement

• Transfer of feelings about one person to another.

• Can’t direct feelings toward the person responsible

• Direct anger at coworkers or family (safe targets)

• EX: Angry with boss, comes home and yells at the family

Compensation

• Substitution of one goal for another in order to achieve success

• If the substituted goal meet the needs…this can be healthy

• Ex: Person wants to be MD, no $, but becomes a Physicians Assistant.

• Compensation can be efficient, IF the sub goal is met and productive

Daydreaming• Means of Escape when one isn’t satisfied with reality• Can allow person to set goals for the future and set

a course to meet the goals…then daydreaming is good

• BUT…IF daydreaming is a substitute for REALITY..and dreams are more satisfying than reality…then daydreaming is bad

• Example: Becoming a dentist: take action to achieve the goal-goal is met- daydreaming is positive

• Becoming a dentist: taking no action- goal not met- daydreaming is negative

Repression

• Transfer of unacceptable or painful ideas, feelings and thoughts into the unconscious mind

• Not aware this is occurring• When feelings or emotions become too painful

or frightening for the person to deal with• Allows the person to function and “forget” the

unpleasant fear or feeling• Can resurface in dreams, or affect behavior• Example: person terrified of heights-doesn’t

know why

Suppression

• Similar to Repression except-

• Person is AWARE of the unacceptable feelings or thoughts and refuses to deal with them

• Substitute work, hobby, or project to avoid a situation.

• Example: man works late every night to avoid fighting with his wife

Denial• Not a river in Egypt!!!• Disbelief of an event or idea too shocking to deal

with• Occurs frequently during illness• When person is ready to deal then denial

becomes acceptance• Example: "Sure, I have been drinking a bit too

much lately, but it's only due to stresses at work; I don't really have a drinking problem since this is situational and not an inner weakness or something."

Withdrawal

• 2 main ways: cease to communicate or

remove self physically from situation

• Sometimes a satisfactory means of avoiding conflict

• Example: silence, running away, and drinking and drug use.

Malingering

• To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.

• Example: feel “sick” stay home from school to avoid a test, but around 3:30 you get to feeling a lot better

Sublimation

• transformation of unwanted impulses into something less harmful and more socially acceptable

• Example :A person with strong sexual urges becomes an artist.

• A man who has extra-marital desires takes up household repairs when his wife is out of town.

Intellectualization

• intellectualization involves removing the emotion from emotional experiences, and discussing painful events in detached, uncaring, sterile ways.

• Example: a family member close to you becomes terminally ill, you engross yourself in the study of the disease in order to avoid dealing with the emotions of the situation