What are defense mechanisms?
Defense mechanisms are behaviors or actions that are caused by your ego, the part of our personality responsible for decision making, that protect us from unwanted anxiety and stress. It is important to understand that these behaviors are done completely unconsciously, and are done to protect yourself from mental harm.
There are seven common defense mechanisms recognized in people, those being, repression, regression, displacement, sublimation, reaction formation, projection, and rationalization. In this article we will cover each mechanism's function and what causes them to take place.
Repression.
The first mechanism is repression, repression is the act of blocking unwanted memories or undesirable ideas from yourself in order to forget the event or idea entirely. A common example of this mechanism is when people unconsciously forget a traumatic event. For example, someone who may of seen a murder take place may repress the memories of the crime to rid themselves of stress about the event. This mechanism can also happen with ideas, for example, repressing the belief that you have no chance landing your dream job position in order to keep yourself happy.
Regression.
The second mechanism is regression, not to be confused with repression, regression is a behavior in which someone will revert to tendencies or traits that are associated with earlier-developmental stages. An example of regression could be returning to the habit of sucking your thumb after experiencing high levels of stress, or throwing tantrums when things don't go your way. This mechanism is often caused by events that trigger high anxiety or stress.
Displacement.
The third mechanism is displacement, displacement is the action of redirecting or taking out your feelings, often negative feelings, onto someone else. An example of this could be someone who is upset with their friend starts to hit or yell at their siblings instead. This mechanism is often associated with bullying, as participants of bullying often face neglect or abuse themselves and then take it out on the people around them.
Sublimation.
The fourth mechanism is sublimation, sublimation is the behavior of taking "socially-unacceptable" feelings and using them to fuel "socially-acceptable" actions. An example could be using your anger to fuel you to run a marathon, or taking your pent up sadness and releasing it through expressive painting. A positive aspect of this mechanism is that it often leads to a beneficial outcome for the user.
Reaction Formation.
The fifth mechanism is reaction formation, reaction formation is a behavior in which the user, exaggeratedly, acts out behaviors opposite of their true emotions. An example of this could be a schoolboy teasing a girl, when in reality he has a crush on her. This mechanism is caused by the often untrue belief that your true feelings will not be accepted by those around you.
Projection.
The sixth mechanism is projection, projection is the action of pushing one's own feelings onto someone else. An example of this could be when a husband accuses his wife of being a bad spouse, because he feels like he isn't being a good partner to her. This mechanism is often caused by the worry or stress that someone's lifestyle choices may bring them.
Rationalization.
The last mechanism is rationalization, rationalization is the action of creating untrue reasons or excuses for one's behaviors. An example of this could be someone justifying smoking, because it's popular and considered cool amongst their age group or social surroundings. This mechanism is caused by the worry that follows after making a decision or changing normal habits.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, there are many more defense and coping mechanisms that exist in our world, however these are the most commonly seen and recognized mechanisms in our society. These mechanisms, while some can be harmful, are done completely to protect oneself from social rejection, stress, and mental harm, and are done unconsciously by our ego. So, the next time someone exhibits one of these behaviors or actions, try your best to instead work out their problems and feelings with them instead of blowing up.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
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