Defence mechanisms types

Top 10 Defense Mechanisms and Why We Use Them

Defense mechanisms refer to psychological strategies or behaviors that people may use to cope with difficult feelings, thoughts, or events.

Defense mechanisms are behaviors that people use to separate themselves from unpleasant events, actions, or thoughts.

The idea of defense mechanisms comes from psychoanalytic theory, a psychological perspective of personality that sees personality as the interaction between three components: id, ego, and super-ego. These psychological strategies may help people put distance between themselves and threats or unwanted feelings, such as guilt or shame.

First proposed by Sigmund Freud, this theory has evolved over time and contends that behaviors, like defense mechanisms, are not under a person’s conscious control. In fact, most people do them without realizing it.

According to these theories, defense mechanisms are a natural part of psychological development. Identifying which type you, your loved ones, and even your co-workers use may help you in future conversations and encounters.

Defense mechanisms are ways you react to situations that bring up negative emotions. According to psychoanalytic theory, when you experience a stressor, the subconscious will first monitor the situation to see if it might harm you. If the subconscious believes the situation might lead to emotional harm, it may react with a defense mechanism to protect you.

Usually, you are unaware of the defense mechanism, though the behavior may appear odd to others around you.

Many researchers place defense mechanisms on a continuum, with more mature defenses improving cognitive processes and less mature ones causing harm.

In the long term, mature defense mechanisms may not be particularly detrimental to your emotional or mental health. Using more mature mechanisms may help you face the anxieties and situations that might normally cause stress and emotional duress.

Other defense mechanisms, however, are not as mature and helpful. Prolonged use of these defenses can lead to lingering problems. In fact, they may prevent you from ever facing emotional issues or anxieties because they block you from seeing the root cause.

Some signs that defense mechanisms are getting in the way of your everyday life and mental health may include:

feeling sad or depressed
having difficulty getting out of bed
avoiding usual daily activities, things, or people that once made you happy
having difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships
communication problems that hinder your professional or personal life

Dozens of different defense mechanisms have been identified. Some are used more commonly than others. Here are a few common defense mechanisms:

1. Denial

Denial is one of the most common defense mechanisms. It occurs when you refuse to accept reality or facts. People in denial may block external events or circumstances from the mind so that they don’t have to deal with the emotional impact. In other words, they avoid painful feelings or events.

This defense mechanism is one of the most widely known, too. The phrase, “They’re in denial,” is commonly understood to mean a person is avoiding reality despite what may be obvious to people around them.

2. Repression

Unsavory thoughts, painful memories, or irrational beliefs can upset you. Instead of facing those thoughts, people may unconsciously choose to hide them in hopes of forgetting them entirely.

That does not mean, however, that the memories disappear entirely. They may influence behaviors, and they may impact future relationships. You just may not realize the impact this defense mechanism is having.

3. Projection

Some thoughts or feelings you have about another person may make you uncomfortable. When people project those feelings, they misattribute them to the other person.

For example, you may dislike your new co-worker, but instead of accepting that, you choose to tell yourself that they dislike you. You start to interpret their words and actions toward you in the worst way possible, even though they don’t actually dislike you.

4. Displacement

You direct strong emotions and frustrations toward a person or object that doesn’t feel threatening. This allows you to satisfy an impulse to react, but you don’t risk significant consequences.

A good example of this defense mechanism is getting angry at your child or spouse because you had a bad day at work. Neither of these people is the target of your strong emotions, but your subconscious may believe reacting to them is likely less problematic than reacting to your boss.

5. Regression

Some people who feel threatened or anxious may unconsciously “escape” to an earlier stage of development.

This type of defense mechanism may be most obvious in young children. If they experience trauma or loss, they may suddenly act as if they’re younger again. They may even begin wetting the bed or sucking their thumb as a form of regression.

Adults can regress, too. Adults who are struggling to cope with events or behaviors may return to sleeping with a cherished stuffed animal, overeat foods they find comforting, or begin chain-smoking or chewing on pencils or pens. They may also avoid everyday activities because they feel overwhelmed.

6. Rationalization

Some people may attempt to explain undesirable behaviors with their own set of “facts.” This allows you to feel comfortable with the choice you made, even if you know on another level it’s not right.

For example, someone who didn’t get a promotion at work might say they didn’t want the promotion anyways.

7. Sublimation

This type of defense mechanism is considered a mature, positive strategy. That’s because people who rely on it choose to redirect strong emotions or feelings into an object or activity that is appropriate and safe.

For example, instead of lashing out at your coworkers during a stressful shift, you choose to channel your frustration into a kickboxing class. You could also funnel or redirect the feelings into music, art, or sports.

8. Reaction formation

People who use this defense mechanism recognize how they feel, but they choose to behave in the opposite manner of their instincts.

A person who reacts this way, for example, may feel they should not express negative emotions, such as anger or frustration. They choose to instead react in an overly positive way.

9. Compartmentalization

Separating your life into independent sectors may feel like a way to protect many elements of it.

For example, when you choose to not discuss personal life issues at work, you block off, or compartmentalize, that element of your life. This allows you to carry on without facing the anxieties or challenges while you’re in that setting or mindset.

10. Intellectualization

When you’re hit with a trying situation, you may choose to remove all emotion from your responses and instead focus on quantitative facts.

You may see this strategy in use when a person spends their days creating spreadsheets of job opportunities and leads after they are let go from a job.

Defense mechanisms can sometimes be viewed as a type of self-deception. You might be using them to hide emotional responses that you don’t want to deal with from yourself. However, it’s done mostly on an unconscious level. You’re not always aware of the way your mind or ego will respond.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t modify or change the behaviors. Indeed, you can transform unhealthy defense mechanisms into ones that are more sustainable. These techniques may help:

Find accountability. Friends and family members can help you recognize defense mechanisms you may be using. By drawing attention to the self-deception, they can help you identify the moment you unconsciously use self-deception. That allows you to then decide in the conscious state what you really want to do.
Learn coping strategies. Therapy with a mental health expert, such as a psychotherapist, psychologist, or psychoanalyst, may help you recognize the defense mechanisms you use most often. They can then help you learn active responses to make choices on a more mindful level.

Defense mechanisms are natural. They are often used without any long-term complications or issues.

However, some people do develop emotional difficulties if they continue to use these mechanisms without coping with the underlying threat or anxiety. Treatment focuses on helping you address issues from a mindful place, not an unconscious one.

20 Defense Mechanisms With Examples

Published: October 27, 2021 Updated: November 24, 2022

Published: 10/27/2021 Updated: 11/24/2022

Defense mechanisms are ways of thinking or acting, often unconsciously, that are meant to protect us from feeling anxiety. They can be helpful or harmful depending on the circumstances in which they are used and whether they are overused. We all use some form of defense mechanism during critical moments when stress is intense or self-esteem is threatened.

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What Is a Defense Mechanism?

Defense mechanisms are behaviors that people use to separate themselves from unpleasant events, thoughts, or actions. To better understand defense mechanisms, it’s important to look at the work of Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna Freud.

His model of personality is based on three aspects of our mind’s functioning: id, ego, and superego. The id is the most primitive part of personality and drives us to meet our needs or wants regardless of morality or realistic consequences. The superego guides us to act in ways that are morally or socially acceptable. The ego is the part that deals with reality, such as making decisions or choices about how to act.

It is common for a conflict to develop between the desires of the id and the restrictions of the superego. The ego tries to mediate between the conflicting forces of the id and superego. When the ego cannot resolve the differences in a realistic way, a state of heightened anxiety results. The ego then uses one or another defense mechanism to reduce the anxiety to a more tolerable level.

Primitive vs. Mature Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms have been categorized into subgroups based on how primitive they are.¹ The more primitive defense mechanisms are effective in the short-term but less effective in the long-term. They are favored by children and adults who haven’t yet learned better ways of coping with stress.

Examples of primitive defense mechanisms include:²

Denial
Regression
Acting out

The most advanced defense mechanisms include:

Suppression
Sublimation
Compensation
Assertiveness
Humor

20 Common Defense Mechanisms

The original description of defense mechanisms included 10 that are most frequently subconsciously used by the ego. However, mental health professionals later identified additional defense mechanisms and differentiated between the least effective (most primitive) and the most effective (advanced) in terms of being helpful over time.¹

Here is a list of 20 defense mechanisms:

Most Primitive

1. Denial

Denial is the refusal to accept the reality that something painful has happened or is still happening. A person in denial will act as if the distressing event or thought simply doesn’t exist. They refuse to talk about the problem or acknowledge any feelings related to it. It is one of the most primitive defense mechanisms because even young children may use denial to cope with trauma or chronic stress.

For example, someone with a substance misuse problem may remain in denial that their behavior is causing serious problems. They may talk about how well they function at work or at home while ignoring the consequences of the substance use.

It is common for people with substance dependence to remain in denial until they have suffered extreme losses, such as separation from family, loss of a job, or financial devastation. The denial may prevent anxiety in the short-term, but it only prolongs the problem in the long-term.

2. Projection

Projection is taking your own unacceptable feelings or thoughts and putting them on another person as if they belong to them. The goal is to relieve you of anxiety about having that thought, feeling, or characteristic. Projection allows you to express the unwanted feeling without owning it. A lack of awareness of one’s own feelings or motivations makes a person more likely to use this mechanism.

For example, someone in a committed relationship may accuse the other of cheating without any evidence. The person making the accusation may be projecting their own desire to become involved in other relationships. They’re unable to acknowledge that desire because they consider it unacceptable. By accusing the partner, the possibility of a different type of relationship is expressed without taking ownership of the thought.

3. Regression

Regression is reverting back to an earlier stage of psychological development. The concept of regression is related to the Freudian theory that personality develops through a series of stages. When a person hasn’t resolved the challenges of a certain stage, they can become fixated. Regression takes you back to the stage and behaviors of that fixation.

For example, under a high level of stress, an adult might refuse to get out of bed and start their day. Instead, they might stay at home where they feel safe and secure. They might even develop vague physical complaints without any noticeable symptoms.

In childhood, these behaviors may have brought attention and comfort from a parent. To the overwhelmed adult ego, being at home and ill seems more acceptable than facing the anxiety of the day’s problems.

4. Acting Out

Acting out is doing something extreme to express a feeling or thought that is creating intense anxiety. A person might act out if they don’t feel able to express their feelings in a more acceptable way. The extreme behavior relieves the intensity of the bad feeling in the short-term. As with the other primitive defenses, it is an ineffective as a way of managing anxiety in the long term.

For example, a person who is angry and frustrated with their circumstances at home might act out by punching a hole in a wall. They might feel unable to identify their own feelings and to put them into words. Punching the wall provides quick, temporary relief of anxiety in spite of the bruised fist.

5. Dissociation

Dissociation is psychologically removing yourself from your present experience. It isn’t done consciously; therefore, it’s easy to lose track of time and memories from that time. The person who dissociates is briefly disconnecting from reality. This dissociation allows the ego to ignore anxiety triggered by that reality. Dissociation often affects people who have experienced trauma such as violence or childhood abuse.

For example, there is a broad range of behavior that can be described as dissociation. On one end of the spectrum are common and mild dissociations such as daydreaming or “highway hypnosis. ”³ At the other end is dissociation in response to a trigger related to a prior trauma.

An example of extreme dissociation is a person who detaches from the present when they ride as a passenger in a car after having been involved in a tragic accident. They appear detached from the present as they are trying to mentally avoid the fear and terror of the past accident. The detachment can last for minutes, hours, days, or longer.

6. Reaction Formation

Reaction formation is acting in a way that is opposite to what you are feeling or thinking. By acting in the opposite way, a person is able to hide their true feelings even from themself. It is more likely to be a defense used by those who are out of touch with their own feelings or impulses.

For example, a person who applauds with enthusiasm when their competitor wins an award can be experiencing a reaction formation. They might be unable to acknowledge their own disappointment or feeling of failure in the moment. By acting enthused for the winner, the anxiety associated with the threat to their self-esteem is avoided.

7. Avoidance

Avoidance is the refusal to think about or deal with people, places, or situations that cause anxiety or guilt. It is often used by those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to avoid the place where trauma occurred.⁴

For example, a teenager who has had the experience of being stuck in an elevator might later avoid elevators as a means of avoiding the anxiety associated with that experience. The defense can be helpful for a while, but it sometimes becomes difficult to avoid the situation. In this case, avoidance coping itself could lead to new problems such as inefficiency.

8. Compartmentalization

Compartmentalization is blocking out awareness of certain parts of your personality. It’s similar to dissociation, but less extreme. If you act in a way that is inconsistent with your values, you may compartmentalize that action and block it from your awareness. It can also be understood as separating parts of your life into different categories to avoid anxiety.

For example, a person might be honest in their routine management of money and then cheat on their income tax return. They don’t see the discrepancy between valuing honesty with finances and being dishonest with tax filing. They have compartmentalized the behavior of paying their taxes.

Less Primitive

9. Repression

Repression is unconsciously keeping feelings, thoughts, or memories out of your awareness. It is done to protect ourselves from the anxiety or fear related to those memories. Because it’s done without our intention, the person has little control over the blocking of the memories. The blocked memories remain in our subconscious minds and continue to influence our feelings and behavior.

For example, an adult might struggle to trust others enough to form close relationships if they have repressed memories of being abused as a child. The repressed memories continue to be associated with the fear of being emotionally or physically unsafe in relationships. This childhood vulnerability can remain in the person’s mind in spite of the lack of any real threat in the present. By repressing the memories, the intense subconscious fear of being harmed is blocked out.

10. Displacement

Displacement is the redirecting of feelings or impulses about one person toward another less-threatening person. It’s often used when the person feels that it’s unsafe or unwise to direct the feelings toward the actual person involved in the problem. Most commonly, feelings of aggression are displaced. As a defense mechanism, it isn’t effective because it tends to cause new problems by involving the other people.

For example, think of the person who gets angry at their boss but displaces that anger toward their spouse. The expression of the angry feelings toward their boss is considered unacceptable, maybe due to the threat of losing the job. It feels relatively safer to get angry at their spouse, who is unlikely to set a serious consequence.

11.

Intellectualization

Intellectualization is the avoidance of feelings in an emotional situation and, instead, focusing on thoughts and using logic. It is an over emphasis on thoughts to protect ourselves from the anxiety or stress of the moment. Since the feelings are blocked from awareness, they are not managed well. The person reacts to the facts and acts on them by doing what is rational or necessary.

For example, a person might be told that a loved one has passed away and quickly begin to make arrangements for a burial or memorial service. The intense feelings of grief are blocked from awareness and replaced with a focus on what needs to be done. This defense becomes more problematic if it continues over time and prevents the person from acknowledging their loss and working through their grief.

12. Rationalization

Rationalization is the use of logic or reasoning to justify something upsetting that occurred. The actual reasons for the event are avoided and replaced with other seemingly reasonable explanations. By rationalizing, you might change something that is difficult to accept into something that “isn’t so bad.” It’s a form of self-deception that can be effective in the short-term to reduce anxiety and protect self-esteem.

For example, someone who was rejected for a date might rationalize by telling themself they didn’t find the other person attractive. It may be too painful for them to accept the lack of mutual attraction. By rationalizing, they avoid feelings of rejection and the threat to their self-image.

13. Undoing

Undoing is trying to take back or make up for a behavior, thought, or impulse that you see as hurtful to someone else. It may be a thought that the other person is not even aware of, but you feel bad for thinking it. You might try to lessen the guilt by being unusually kind, helpful, or complimentary.

For example, a person who has unintentionally insulted a friend might feel guilty for doing so, but rather than apologize for the comment, they make up for it by giving compliments. They are attempting to undo the effects of the insult and relieve their own feelings of guilt.

14. Passive-Aggression

Passive-aggression is the indirect expression of anger to avoid directly dealing with anger. This defense mechanism is used by many adults, particularly those who are very depressed and those with personality disorders.⁵

For example, someone who agrees to do a favor for a friend in spite of not really wanting to might be passive-aggressive by not following through with the requested favor. As an example, they might agree to pick up the friend from the airport at a particular time and then decide to not show up. They might later make the excuse that they forgot when in fact it was their decision to not be there as promised.

15. Fantasy

When used as a defense mechanism, fantasy refers to retreating into your own imagination to avoid stressful situations or to reach your unattainable goals. It is a defense commonly used by children, but it is also used by adults when they are feeling challenged by their circumstances. ⁶

For example, someone who has been working long hours month after month and feeling burned out might use fantasy to think about the vacation they will take when they have the opportunity. They might imagine what they do on that vacation and how they will feel.

Most Advanced

16. Suppression

Suppression is the conscious blocking of unpleasant thoughts, impulses, or memories. A person who is suppressing is deliberately trying not to think about a disturbing thought or impulse. This is usually done to avoid feelings of anxiety or guilt. Unlike repression, suppression does not block the thoughts indefinitely. They are brought back to awareness when there is an opportunity to cope with them more effectively.

For example, someone who has lied to a friend might feel guilt for doing so. They might suppress the feeling of guilt in order to get through their work day but make a decision to talk with that friend as soon as possible. Suppression is effective in letting them function at work, but it does not prevent them from dealing with the consequences of having lied.

17. Sublimation

Sublimation is channeling unacceptable thoughts or impulses into more socially acceptable behaviors. By redirecting the energy away from the unacceptable behavior and toward more healthy behavior, the person avoids causing more problems. Sublimation can be an effective way to manage aggressive or sexual impulses.

For example, someone who is feeling angry might vent their anger by doing vigorous exercise, such as working out with a punching bag. This allows for a healthy release of energy while building strength and avoiding other problems.

18. Compensation

Compensation is making up for perceived weaknesses in one area by putting more effort and focus into other aspects of your life. It is realistic to acknowledge that you cannot excel at everything and to focus on the areas where you might excel. This defense can be helpful in maintaining self-confidence when faced with weaknesses.

For example, a person who shows more talent at golf than tennis might choose to spend much more of their time playing golf. When they lose a game of tennis, they might reassure themself that they’re better at golf. They are accepting that they don’t excel at both sports but that they are competent in at least one. This focus upon their relative strengths maintains a healthy sense of confidence in their overall athletic ability.

19. Assertiveness

Assertiveness is communicating in a direct, clear, respectful way. It is stating thoughts, feelings or needs in a way that is firm but not aggressive. It is more direct than passive communication because opinions or needs are stated clearly. However, the words used are not mean-spirited or intended as hurtful. It’s a highly desirable communication skill.

For example, a person who declines to do a favor for a friend might be assertive by saying that they cannot help with that request although they do value the friendship and would like it to continue. It is not necessary to give any reasons or to make any excuses.

20. Humor

As a defense mechanism, humor is decreasing the anxiety associated with a situation by pointing out something funny or ironic about it. Humor is widely regarded as one of the higher-level defense mechanisms.⁶

For example, telling a story about a funny incident from a person’s life during a memorial service is an example of using humor as a defense mechanism. The laughter helps to relieve the intensity of grief at least for a few moments. It is not an avoidance of the emotion, but simply a brief relief from it.

When Do Defense Mechanisms Become Unhealthy?

Defense mechanisms stop people from facing reality, leaving the original stress to worsen over time. The more primitive defense mechanisms often cause more issues, particularly if they’re used too often or for too long. In contrast, the more advanced defense mechanisms are healthier and less likely to cause problems; however, even they might be overused.

7 Signs of an Unhealthy Use of Defense Mechanisms

Here are seven signs of unhealthy defensiveness:

You’re often accusing others of doing things that you’d like to be doing but can’t admit to, leading to relationship conflicts (projection)
You have difficulty paying attention in stressful situations due to maladaptive daydreaming (dissociation)
You’re avoiding people, places, or things that upset you (avoidance)
You tend to feel distrustful in relationships with no basis to be concerned (repression)
Your friends point out that you act childishly at inappropriate times (regression)
You often get angry or irritable with family after a difficult work day (displacement)
You’re arriving late to work routinely after using alcohol or other substances on the prior day, but you’re telling yourself that you still get the work done and do not have a problem (denial)

Treatment for Unhealthy Defense Mechanisms

Treatment for an unhealthy reliance on defense mechanisms is often consistent with treatment for anxiety disorders. It might involve various forms of individual therapy, anger management, grief counseling, medication, or lifestyle changes.

Therapy

There are several forms of therapy that could be helpful in limiting the use of defense mechanisms. Anger management is typically recommended for acting out and displacement. If denial is resulting in persistent abuse of a substance, the person is likely to benefit from information and support from a recovery program. Someone repressing grief may need grief counseling, while a person with severe dissociations may need PTSD treatment.

A licensed mental health provider will be able to assess the underlying problem and make treatment recommendations. Medication could be recommended if the level of anxiety or irritability is extreme. The most common medications for anxiety issues are benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and antidepressants, all of which would be prescribed by a licensed medical professional.

If you don’t know where to start when it comes to finding a therapist, consider starting with an online directory.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes that have been demonstrated to help with chronic anxiety include regular exercise (to balance neurochemicals and lower levels of stress hormones), consistent and adequate sleep (to maintain both physical and mental well-being), and limited use of stimulants such as caffeine. Other lifestyle changes include implementing a mindfulness practice, spending time with supportive friends and family, and practicing self-compassion.

Final Thoughts on Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms lessen anxiety in the moment, which is their ultimate purpose. Mature defense mechanisms are often effective in the long term because they don’t cause more issues, but when primitive defense mechanisms become unhealthy, treatment is recommended and available. Reaching out to a therapist or a trusted friend or family member is a great way to start feeling better.

Additional Resources

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For Further Reading

Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Health
MentalHealth.gov

6 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

Vaillant, G.E. (1992). Ego mechanisms of defense: A guide for clinicians and researchers. American Psychiatric Association.
Grohol, J. M. (2016). 15 common defense mechanisms. Retrieved from: https://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-defense-mechanisms
American Psychiatric Association.(August, 2018) What are dissociative disorders? Retrieved from: www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/dissociative-disorders/what-are-dissociative-disorder
Cramer, P. (November 2015). Understanding defense mechanisms. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284184605_Understanding_Defense_Mechanisms
Vaillant, G.E. Bond, M., & Vaillant, C.O. (1986). An empirically validated hierarchy of defense mechanisms. Archives of General Psychiatry, 73, 786-794.
National Institute of Health (NIH) (June 2021). Defense mechanisms. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559106/

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10 Mental Defense Mechanisms We Use Every Day - T&P

The human psyche is equipped with mechanisms that help us instinctively protect our Self. Using them helps to make our experience less traumatic, but at the same time reduces our chances of successfully interacting with reality. According to Anna Freud, the author of The Psychology of the Self and Defense Mechanisms, Sigmund Freud's daughter, each of us uses about five of these strategies every day. T&P explains why sublimation is not always associated with creativity, how projection causes us to criticize innocent people, and why auto-aggression is associated with family problems.

Denial: no recognition of the problem

Denial is one of the simplest defense mechanisms of the psyche. This is a complete rejection of unpleasant information, which allows you to effectively fence yourself off from it. The classic example here is when you drink several glasses of wine or beer every day for a long time, but at the same time you remain confident that you can give up your habit at any time. Denial is characterized by a sharp reaction to the problem statement: if someone in this case hints to you that you have become addicted to alcohol, this person is likely to suffer from your tantrum.

Denial is often the first reaction to the pain of loss and is the first "stage of grief" according to some experts (however, in this case it is also called the "stage of distrust"). A person who unexpectedly loses his job will say: “It can’t be!” A witness to a car accident trying to help the victims may not immediately come to terms with the fact that one of them has stopped breathing. In this case, this mechanism does not protect anyone except the person who unconsciously uses it - however, in situations where a cold mind is needed, denial of danger or one's own shock can be very useful for all participants in the events.

Projection: Taking Out

Projection allows us to project our destructive or unacceptable thoughts, desires, traits, opinions, and motives onto other people. The goal is to protect yourself from yourself or delay the solution of the problem. For example, a person may think that a partner is critical of his earnings - while in fact there is nothing like that from the partner's side. If such a person overcomes his projection and becomes aware of the situation, he will see that the criticism comes from himself, and it is based, say, on the negative opinion of his parents, who insisted on his failure.

A negative consequence of the projection may be the desire to "correct" the object that allegedly serves as a carrier of unpleasant traits, or to get rid of it altogether. Moreover, such an external "carrier" sometimes has nothing to do with what is projected onto it. At the same time, the projection mechanism underlies empathy - our ability to share their feelings with others, to delve deeply into what is happening not to us, and to achieve mutual understanding with those around us.

Auto-aggression: blame yourself

Self-aggression, or turning against oneself, is a very destructive defense mechanism. It is often characteristic of children experiencing difficult moments in relations with their parents. It can be difficult for a person to admit that his parent is being dismissive or aggressive towards him, and instead he assumes that he himself is bad. Self-blame, self-humiliation, self-harm, self-destruction through drugs or alcohol, overindulgence in the dangerous aspects of extreme sports are all results of this mechanism.

Self-aggression occurs most often when our survival or well-being depends on an external object that caused its appearance. But, despite the many negative consequences of this process, from an emotional point of view, it can be better tolerated than aggression directed at the original target: a parent, guardian, or other important figure.

Sublimation: the basis of pop culture

Sublimation is one of the most widely used psychological defense mechanisms. In this case, the energy of unwanted, traumatic or negative experiences is redirected to achieve socially approved constructive goals. It is often used by people of creative professions, including famous ones. Songs about unrequited love or books about dark periods of life often become the fruits of sublimation. This is what makes them accessible to understanding - and ultimately popular.

However, sublimation can be more than just literary or "pictorial". Sadistic desires can be sublimated in the course of surgical practice, and unwanted (for example, from the point of view of religion) sexual desire - in the creation of brilliant works of architecture (as was the case of Antonio Gaudí, who led an extremely ascetic lifestyle). Sublimation can also be part of the psychotherapeutic process, when the client splashes out his internal conflicts through creativity: he creates texts, paintings, scripts and other works that allow him to bring the personality into balance.

Regression: return to childhood

The mechanism of regression allows you to adapt to a traumatic situation of conflict, anxiety or pressure by returning to behavioral practices familiar from childhood: screaming, crying, whims, emotional requests, etc. This happens because we, as a rule, we learn early that they guarantee support and security. Demonstration of defenselessness, sickness, inferiority very often brings psychological "dividends" - after all, people, like other living beings, at the neurophysiological level tend to protect the weak and small - that is, offspring, and not only their own.

Regression allows you to throw off the burden of responsibility for what is happening: after all, in childhood, instead of us, parents are responsible for a lot. This defense mechanism can be called very effective and fairly hassle-free. Difficulties arise when he works too long. The abuse of regression leads to the appearance of psychosomatic diseases, hypochondria, the lack of a successful life strategy, and the destruction of relationships with people around.

Rationalization: explanations for everything

Rationalization is the ability to carefully select appropriate reasonable causes for a negative situation. The goal here is self-belief that we are not to blame, that we are good enough or significant enough and that we are not the problem. A person who was rejected for an interview may convince himself and those around him that he did not need such a job or that the company turned out to be too “boring”, while in reality he experienced the strongest regret. “I didn’t really want to” is a classic phrase for rationalization.

Passive behavior can be rationalized by caution, aggressive behavior by self-defence, and indifferent behavior by the desire to give others more independence. The main result of the work of this mechanism is the imaginary restoration of a balance between the desired and real state of affairs and the degree of self-esteem. However, rationalization often does not completely remove the negative effects of the traumatic situation, so that it continues to hurt for a long time.

Intellectualization: theoretical feelings

Intellectualization allows us to neutralize anger, grief or pain by redirecting attention to a completely foreign area. A man who has recently been abandoned by his wife can devote all his free time to studying the history of Ancient Rome - and this will allow him "not to think so much" about the loss. This psychological defense mechanism is based on the desire to abstract from feelings and intellectualize them, turning them into theoretical concepts.

The behavior of an intellectualizing person is often perceived as adult and mature, and this makes this form of defense socially attractive. It also has another plus: intellectualization allows you to reduce dependence on your own emotions and “clear” behavior from them. Nevertheless, prolonged use of this mechanism is fraught with the destruction of emotional ties with the outside world, a decrease in the ability to understand and discuss feelings with other people.

Rocket formation: fight instead of hugging

Rocket formation is a kind of behavioral magic. This defense strategy allows you to turn the negative into the positive and vice versa. We often encounter its effects, harmless and not so. Boys pull the braids of the girls they like; older people speak with condemnation about the promiscuity of youths and seek to humiliate them, when in reality, revealing clothes and provocative style attract them. Reactive formation often betrays its inadequacy of the situation and periodic “breakthroughs” of true feeling through the mask.

Homophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of rejection of social and national groups are also sometimes the result of reactive education. In this case, with the help of a defense mechanism, one's own attraction or one's own connection with a national group, which for some reason is considered unacceptable, is neutralized. This application of a defense mechanism harms other people, but it does not eliminate the internal conflict in the person who uses it, and does not increase his level of awareness.

Substitution: transference of anger

Substitution allows you to transfer unwanted feelings (especially anger and irritation) from one object to another for the purpose of self-defense. The person who was yelled at by the boss may not answer him anything, but yell at his child at home in the evening. He needs to take out the anger that has arisen, however, it is dangerous to do this in communication with the boss, but the child can hardly give a worthy rebuff.

A random object can also become a replacement object. In this case, the result of this protection mechanism is, for example, rudeness in transport or rudeness at the workplace. An unfinished drawing torn in anger is also a form of substitution, however, much more harmless.

Fantasy: Brave New World

Fantasy allows you to temporarily improve your emotional state through the use of imagination. Dreaming, reading, playing computer games, and even watching porn give us the opportunity to move from a difficult situation to where we feel more comfortable. From the point of view of psychoanalysis, the emergence of fantasies is due to the desire for the fulfillment, satisfaction and fulfillment of desires that cannot yet be satisfied in the real world.

Fantasies absorb suffering and help calm the personality. Nevertheless, the psyche is not always able to fully recognize where reality ends and the imaginary world begins. In the era of information technology development, a person can enter into a relationship with a media image, dreaming of a favorite actress or interacting with a computer game character they like. The destruction of such relationships due to unsuccessful contact with the real content of the image or unpleasant situations will be experienced as a real loss and will bring emotional pain. Fantasies can also distract a person from the real world. At the same time, they often become fertile ground for creativity and form the basis of successful works, bringing positive results in reality.

Psychological protection: types of personality defense mechanisms

A person is constantly faced with a conflict between his inner world and the surrounding reality. The human psyche is designed in such a way that it protects itself from the negative consequences of this collision. Thanks to certain mechanisms, anxiety is weakened, frustration, tension and anxiety are reduced.

Psychological protection automatically works when exposed to negative factors, leveling the psycho-emotional background. It regulates a person's reactions, helps to adapt to the situation, and normalizes the state of the individual. Scientists believe that the defense mechanisms that bring the psyche to a stable state can be activated not only at the unconscious level.

Methods of psychological protection are not applied one by one, but act in combination. The fight against internal and external conflicts occurs due to the work of imagination, memory, emotions, thinking, perception and attention. To reduce emotional stress, the following techniques can be used.

Projection

It manifests itself in the fact that a person projects his own negative traits onto the people around him. For example, an individual can explain his own aggression as a just reaction to the aggressive behavior of others. Something like: as you are with me, so I am with you.

Most often, projection acts as a defensive reaction against awareness of one's own problems. It covers negative character traits. There is another type of psychological defense.

In some cases, a person transfers positive emotions and achievements to others, thereby subconsciously asserting himself at the expense of others. For example, when a student achieves success in some business where his teacher never shone, the latter is secretly proud of his own merit. After all, it was he who was able to instill in the pupil the necessary skills.

Rationalization

This psychological defense is built on a pseudo-rational approach. A person uses logical and understandable reasoning to explain his own failure to himself. That part of the situation, which is negatively quoted in the internal system of values, is unconsciously removed from consciousness. A person does not perceive the connection between cause and effect, replaces it with a false judgment.

An example of rationalization is the fable about the fox and the grapes. The animal did not manage to eat the berry. The fox assured herself that she could not taste the grapes because they were not ripe, and not because they were growing at an unattainable height.

Jet Formation

It is based on the substitution of feelings and emotions for the opposite ones. For example, the fear of showing sympathy forms strong antipathy, and hatred of parents forms boundless love and care. A person changes his feelings to polar ones unconsciously, often due to fear of not being understood or as a result of other reasons.

This kind of psychological defense can be calculated by the intensity of the emotions shown. Let's say, if anger towards a person blinds the eyes and does not manifest itself in other cases, then this is a clear wake-up call. As well as endless love for the boss can be the result of bright negative emotions.

Regression

This defense mechanism brings the adult back to childhood. At an unconscious level, each person has a script for the child's behavior. When it’s bad or something doesn’t go according to plan, you can slide into crying, tantrums, whims. Then others will come to the rescue and solve all problems.

A similar scenario worked in childhood with parents, so many adults, with the help of regression, try to regain that psychological comfort and relieve the burden of responsibility. Often, this behavior can be observed in illness. The constant use of this type of psychological defense can lead to psychosomatic illnesses and difficulties in relations with society.

Insulation

With the help of abstraction from any problem, a person protects his psyche from immersion in negative emotions. Isolation protects against increased anxiety, guilt, etc.

Another way to apply the method is to abstract away the hazards at work. For example, an electrician who constantly thinks about how current kills people is unlikely to be able to bring himself to calmly install electrical networks.

Displacement

All types of psychological defense help to cope with negative feelings, but repression works even with the most powerful impulses. This method is characterized by the removal of the traumatic event from consciousness. However, it still remains in the memory at an unconscious level and affects the behavior of the individual.

The human psyche actively supports repression, spending a large amount of resources. Unresolved internal conflict breaks to the surface in a dream, reservations. Repression is quite dangerous, as it can lead to serious neurosis.

Replacement

In some situations, a person experiences strong negative emotions, but cannot throw them out, fearing the consequences. In this case, the individual replaces the object for the release of his feelings with a safer one for himself. Most often it is about anger, and it can manifest itself in rudeness, rudeness, irritation, etc.

For example, at work, the boss yelled at his subordinate. He understands that to enter into a conflict is dangerous for his own well-being. Arriving home, he splashes out his anger on a child who is not able to give a worthy rebuff.

Sublimation

A creative psychological defense mechanism that helps to get away from negative experiences in a creative way. So, unrequited love turns into a song, and a personal tragedy becomes the basis of a bestseller. Sublimation is often recommended as a psychotherapy. People who have experienced severe shocks express their experiences through text, images, architecture, etc.

Negative

A simple and common way of psychological defense to deal with negativity is a complete rejection of the problem. For example, the loss of a loved one may be accompanied by a stage of "disbelief". Denial is characteristic of alcoholics and drug addicts who are sure that they can stop at any moment. At the same time, such people react very sharply to any hints about the presence of a problem.

Identification

A psychological defense mechanism based on the identification of an individual with other people or a whole group of people. With the help of identification, a person assigns unattainable qualities to himself. He adopts the behavior and reactions of another individual, one might say, strives to conform to a given ideal. Often this defense is used to suppress fear by identifying with the aggressor. Thus, a person gets rid of the feeling of inferiority.

Self-limiting

Sometimes self-esteem of an individual in self-realization falls. For example, a person is persistently engaged in any activity, but cannot achieve high results, like his colleagues. In this case, self-respect falls, the individual succumbs to difficulties and generally stops activity. That is, there is self-restraint in the area where a person does not demonstrate achievements.

Resistance

There are various defense mechanisms of personality, and some of them interfere with work on oneself.

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