IMPORTANT: Key Defense Mechanisms

[david.cummiskey]

I know that I often get these mixed up and see them a lot on exams, wishing I would have taken the few extra minutes necessary to commit them to memory. Hope this helps you too

Denial- Refuses to accept a painful reality, pretending as if it doesn't exist.

Ex. A man who snorts cocaine daily, is fired for attendance problems, yet insists he doesn't have a problem.

Displacement- Directing anger toward someone or onto another, less threatening (safer) substitute.

Ex. An older employee is publicly embarrassed by a younger boss at ork and angrily cuts a driver off on the way home.

Identification- Taking on attributes and characteristics of someone admired.

Ex. A young man joins the police academy to become a policeman like his father, whom he respects.

Intellectualization- Excessive focus on logic and reason to avoid the feelings associated with a situation.

Ex. An executive who has cancer, requests all studies and blood work, and discusses in detail with her doctor, as if she were speaking about someone else.

Projection- Attributing to others feelings unacceptable to self.

Ex. A group therapy client strongly dislikes another member but claims that it is the member who "dislikes her".

Reaction Formation- Expressing an opposite feeling from what is actually felt and is considered undesirable.

Ex. John, who despises Jeremy, greets him warmly and offers him food and beverages and special attention.

Sublimation- Redirecting unacceptable feelings or drives into an acceptable channel.

Ex. A mother of a child killed in a drive-by shooting becomes involved in legislative change for gun laws and gun violence.

Undoing- Ritualistically negating or undoing intolerable feelings/thoughts.

Ex. A man who has thoughts that his father will die must step on sidewalk cracks to prevent this and cannot miss a crack.

(Davis Psych Notes Clinical Pocket Guide, 2005, pp.6)

Happy Studying :typing

[2bNurse4life4ever]

Thank you for posting these..this is VERY HELPFUL! I also enjoyed ur other thread on infection control precautions..thanks once again..! :)

[NurseLil-lea]

This is great david.cummiskey! You are a real big help!!!:bowingpur Keepin coming!!!