TYPES OF DEFENCE MECHANISM

(RESEARCH BASED ON INTERNET)

1. Acting Out
When an inner conflict (most often, frustration) translates into aggression. It involves acting with
little or no insight or reflection and in order to attract attention and disrupt other people's cosy
lives.
2. Denial
Perhaps the most primitive and best known defense mechanism. People simply ignore
unpleasant facts, they filter out data and content that contravene their self-image, prejudices,
and preconceived notions of others and of the world.
3. Devaluation
Attributing negative or inferior traits or qualifiers to self or others. This is done in order to punish
the person devalued and to mitigate his or her impact on and importance to the devaluer. When
the self is devalued, it is a self-defeating and self-destructive act.
4. Displacement
When we cannot confront the real sources of our frustration, pain, and envy, we tend to pick a
fight with someone weaker or irrelevant and, thus, less menacing. Children often do it because
they perceive conflicts with parents and caregivers as life-threatening. Instead, they go out and
torment the cat or bully someone at school or lash out at their siblings.
5. Dissociation
Our mental existence is continuous. We maintain a seamless flow of memories, consciousness,
perception, and representation of both inner and external worlds. When we face horrors and
unbearable truths, we sometimes "disengage". We lose track of space, time, and the continuum
of our identity. We become "someone else" with minimal awareness of our surroundings, of
incoming information, and of circumstances. In extreme cases, some people develop a
permanently rent personality and this is known as "Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)".
6. Fantasy
Everyone fantasizes now and then. It helps to fend off the dreariness and drabness of everyday
life and to plan for an uncertain future. But when fantasy becomes a central feature of grappling
with conflict, it is pathological. Seeking gratification - the satisfaction of drives or desires - mainly
by fantasizing is an unhealthy defense. Narcissists, for instance, often indulge in grandiose
fantasies which are incommensurate with their accomplishments and abilities. Such fantasy life
retards personal growth and development because it substitutes for true coping.

7. Idealization
Another defense mechanism in the arsenal of the narcissist (and, to lesser degree, the
Borderline and Histrionic) is the attribution of positive, glowing, and superior traits to self and
(more commonly) to others. Again, what differentiates the healthy from the pathological is the
reality test. Imputing positive characteristics to self or others is good, but only if the attributed
qualities are real and grounded in a firm grasp of what's true and what's not.

8. Isolation of Affect
Cognition (thoughts, concepts, ideas) is never divorced from emotion. Conflict can be avoided
by separating the cognitive content (for instance, a disturbing or depressing idea) from its
emotional correlate. The subject is fully aware of the facts or of the intellectual dimensions of a
problematic situation but feels numb. Casting away threatening and discomfiting feelings is a
potent way of coping with conflict in the short-term. It is only when it became habitual that it
rendered self-defeating.
Attempting to avoid a painful thought or feeling by objectifying and emotionally detaching
oneself from the feeling. Example, acting aloof and indifferent toward someone when you really
dislike that person
9. Omnipotence
When one has a pervading sense and image of oneself as incredibly powerful, superior,
irresistible, intelligent, or influential. This is not an adopted affectation but an ingrained,
ineradicable inner conviction which borders on magical thinking. It is intended to fend off
expected hurt in having to acknowledge one's shortcomings, inadequacies, or limitations.
10. Projection
We all have an image of how we "should be". Freud called it the "Ego Ideal". But sometimes we
experience emotions and drives or have personal qualities which don't sit well with this idealized
construct. Projection is when we attribute to others these unacceptable, discomfiting, and illfitting feelings and traits that we possess. This way we disown these discordant features and
secure the right to criticize and chastise others for having or displaying them. When entire
collectives (nations, groups, organizations, firms) project, Freud calls it the Narcissism of Small
Differences.

11. Projective Identification

Projection is unconscious. People are rarely aware that they are projecting onto others their own
ego-dystonic and unpleasant characteristics and feelings. But, sometimes, the projected content
is retained in the subject's awareness. This creates a conflict. On the one hand, the patient
cannot admit that the emotions, traits, reactions, and behaviors that he so condemns in others
are really his. On the other hand, he can't help but being self-aware. He fails to erase from his
consciousness the painful realization that he is merely projecting. So, instead of denying it, the
subject explains unpleasant emotions and unacceptable conduct as reactions to the recipient's
behavior. "She made me do it!" is the battle cry of projective identification.

We all have expectations regarding the world and its denizens. Some people expect to be loved
and appreciated - others to be feared and abused. The latter behave obnoxiously and thus force
their nearest and dearest to hate, fear, and "abuse" them. Thus vindicated, their expectations
fulfilled, they calm down. The world is rendered once more familiar by making other people
behave the way they expect them to. "I knew you would cheat on me! It was clear I couldn't trust
you!".
12. Rationalization
To cast one's behavior after the fact in a favorable light. To justify and explain one's conduct or,
more often, misconduct by resorting to ":rational, logical, socially-acceptable" explications and
excuses. Rationalization is also used to re-establish ego-syntonic (inner peace and selfacceptance).
Though not strictly a defense mechanism, cognitive dissonance may be considered a variant of
rationalization. It involves speech acts which amount to the devaluation of things and people
very much desired but frustratingly out of one's reach and control. In a famous fable, a fox,
unable to snag the luscious grapes he covets, says: "these grapes are probably sour anyhow!".
This is an example of cognitive dissonance in action.
13. Reaction Formation
Adopting a position and mode of conduct that defy personally unacceptable thoughts or
impulses by expressing diametrically opposed sentiments and convictions. Example: a latent
(closet) homosexual finds his sexual preference deplorable and acutely shameful (egodystonic). He resorts to homophobia. He public berates, taunts, and baits homosexuals.
Additionally, he may flaunt his heterosexuality by emphasizing his sexual prowess, or by
prowling singles bars for easy pick-ups and conquests. This way he contains and avoids his
unwelcome homosexuality.

14. Repression
The removal from consciousness of forbidden thoughts and wishes. The removed content does
not vanish and it remains as potent as ever, fermenting in one's unconscious. It is liable to
create inner conflicts and anxiety and provoke other defense mechanisms to cope with these.
15. Sublimation
The conversion and channeling of unacceptable emotions into socially-condoned behavior.
Freud described how sexual desires and urges are transformed into creative pursuits or politics.
16. Undoing
Trying to rid oneself of gnawing feelings of guilt by compensating the injured party either
symbolically or actually. Trying to reverse or "undo" a thought or feeling by performing an action
that signifies an opposite feeling than your original thought or feeling. Example, you have
feelings of dislike for someone so you buy them a gift
17. Regression
Returning to more primitive levels of behavior in defense against anxiety or frustration.
18. Displacement
Discharging pent-up feelings, usually of hostility, on objects less dangerous than those that
initially aroused the emotion.
19. Splitting
Everything in the world is seen as all good or all bad with nothing in between. Example, You
think your best friend is absolutely worthless because he forgot a lunch date with you.
20. Altruism
Handling your own pain by helping others. Example, after your wife dies, you keep yourself busy
by volunteering at your church.
21. Humor
Focusing on funny aspects of a painful situation. Example, a person's treatment for cancer
makes him lose his hair so he makes jokes about being bald.
22. Suppression
The effort to hide and control unacceptable thoughts or feelings
someone but say that you really don't like the person at all.

you are attracted to

23. intellectualization
Avoiding unacceptable emotions by focusing on the intellectual aspects, focusing on the details
of a funeral as opposed to the sadness and grief.
24. Introjection
(German: Introjektion) is a psychoanalytical term with a variety of meanings. Generally, it is
regarded as the process where the subject replicates in itself behaviors, attributes or other
fragments of the surrounding world, especially of other subjects. Cognate concepts are
identification, incorporation,[1] and internalization. To use a simple example, a person who picks
up traits from their friends (e.g., a person who begins frequently exclaiming "Ridiculous!" as a
result of hearing a friend of theirs repeatedly doing the same) is introjecting.
25. Self-harm (SH) or deliberate self-harm (DSH)
Includes self-injury (SI) and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of
body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions. These terms are used in the more
recent literature in an attempt to reach a more neutral terminology. The older literature
especially that which predates the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV-TR), almost exclusively refers to self-mutilation. The term self-harm is synonymous with the
term self-injury.
26. Isolation (German: Isolierung)
Is a defense mechanism in psychoanalytic theory first proposed by Sigmund Freud. While
related to repression the concept distinguishes itself in several ways. It is characterized as a
mental process involving the creation of a gap between an unpleasant or threatening cognition,
and other thoughts and feelings. By minimizing associative connections with other thoughts, the
threatening cognition is remembered less often and is less likely to affect self-esteem or the
self-concept. Freud illustrated the concept with the example of a person beginning a train of
thought and then pausing for a moment before continuing to a different subject. His theory
stated that by inserting an interval the person was "letting it be understood symbolically that he
will not allow his thoughts about that impression or activity to come into associative contact with
other thoughts. As a defense against harmful thoughts, isolation prevents the self from allowing
these cognitions to become recurrent and possibly damaging to the self-concept.

27. Reversal
This defense, as well as turning against the self, was considered by Freud to come into play
quite early in life. It refers mainly to turning love into hate and hate into love for defensive
purposes. Suppose there were a woman and a man. The woman is frightened of her
unconscious longing to have sex with a man. He knows she drinks and smokes secretly, which
he normally hates. The man likes her and has a good friendship with her. He thinks of her as
smart and talented. The man doesn't want to sleep with her, but just wants to keep good
company with her. She is constantly angry and scornful of him. In this case,
reversal into its opposite is similar to reaction formation. Another easier example is Aesop's sour
grape.
28. Turning against the self
This was one of the first defense mechanisms discussed by Freud, who considered it to be a
very early defensive process. It is actually quite a complex operation, in which the object of a
drive, usually aggression, is changed from another person to the self. It is therefore seen
frequently in depression and masochism. In these conditions, the ego defends itself against the
fear of its aggression; the person's conscience also plays a role in turning the aggression away
from the object toward the self.
29. Compensation
Alfred Adler observed that much of human life is devoted to compensating for whatever we think
are our weaknesses. Sometimes we try to improve on whatever we are weak in, the most
famous example being Demosthenes becoming a great speaker.
Sometimes people recognize a weakness in one area, but try to excel in another. Some
examples of this can be seen in average students becoming outstanding athletes, and students
who are physically not very attractive becoming great scholars. These are healthy way to handle
the anxiety of feeling inferior or inadequate. There are, however, unhealthy ways to
compensate, such as a person feeling unloved becoming promiscuous, substituting quantity for
quality.

30. Dissociation
Dissociation usually stems from a trauma, intense pain, or a serious identity crisis. It may
manifest itself in disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, memory loss, Multiple
Personality Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, as well as the more common phenomena of
flashbacks, and forgetting something embarrassing.
However, in dissociation memories are not just lost in the subconscious (as in repression) but
they are splintered and distorted. It is as if under intense stress the ability of the consciousness
to include all the thoughts, emotions, and somatic sensations fails, and some aspects become
separated and inaccessible. Thus, a person may remember what happened, but forget how it
felt. Or, a person may feel depersonalized, like a robot.
There is also an "everyday life" level of dissociation involving assumptions about things and
people. In this case, people tend to discard some parts of reality that contradict a belief that they
hold as true.
31. Fantasy
Fantasy (daydreams, literature, television, Internet) is a way to escape real problems. Imagining
that one is successful may lead to feelings of success, especially when one's reality is the
opposite of success. In some cases, this may be beneficial: fantasy acts as a rehearsal for our
future success. Thinking about an upcoming vacation, or a reward for work when it gets too
stressful, is a healthy use of fantasy. Many self-help methods are based on fantasy: covert
rehearsal, covert sensitization/desensitization, empathy, etc.
However, just as fantasy may be part of the solution, it may become part of the problem.
Imagining the worst consequences may lead to fear, or reliving a bad situation may lead to
anger and depression. Also, imagining solutions to problems instead of actually solving them
can have negative consequences. When a person actually starts to live in the world of fantasy
they created, instead of facing the real world and real challenges, it has become pathological.
32. Identification

Identification (sometimes also called introjection) involves identifying with someone else, taking
on their personality characteristics, in order to solve some emotional difficulty and avoid anxiety.
This was originally Freud's solution to Oedipus and Electra complexes: identify with the same
sex parent and try to become like him or her.
33. Withdrawal
Withdrawal involves the removal of oneself from anything and everything that carries reminders
of painful or stressful thoughts and emotions. Since normal social life involves many situations
that are connected to the painful event, and friends or colleagues may ask uncomfortable
questions, the use of withdrawal means the end of one's social life. Furthermore, even television

or literature may contain images or scenes that elicit painful emotions or stressful thoughts, and
so many normal activities come to be avoided. Withdrawal is one the most severe defense
mechanisms because it can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness, which create more
anxiety and pain. Combined with fantasy, withdrawal can paralyze one's life.
34. Compartmentalization
Compartmentalization is a lesser form of dissociation, wherein parts of oneself are separated
from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had separate sets of values. An example
might be an honest person who cheats on their income tax return and keeps their two value
systems distinct and un-integrated while remaining unconscious of the cognitive dissonance.
35. Delusional projection
Delusions about external reality, usually of a persecutory nature.
36. Conversion
The expression of an intrapsychic conflict as a physical symptom; some examples include
blindness, deafness, paralysis, or numbness. This phenomenon is sometimes called hysteria.
37. Distortion
A gross reshaping of external reality to meet internal needs.
38. Extreme projection
The blatant denial of a moral or psychological deficiency, which is perceived as a deficiency in
another individual or group.
39. Wishful thinking
Making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to
evidence, rationality, or reality.
40. Idealization
Tending to perceive another individual as having more desirable qualities than he or she may
actually have.
41. Passive aggression
Aggression towards others expressed indirectly or passively, often through procrastination.
42. Projective identification
The object of projection invokes in that person precisely the thoughts, feelings or behaviors
projected.

43. Hypochondriasis
An excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness.
44. Respect
Willingness to show consideration or appreciation. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard
for the actual qualities of a person or feeling being and also specific actions and conduct
representative of that esteem. Relationships and contacts that are built without the presence of
respect are seldom long term or sustainable. The lack of respect is at the very heart of most
conflict in families, communities, and nations.
45. Moderation
The process of eliminating or lessening extremes and staying within reasonable limits. It
necessitates self-restraint which is imposed by oneself on one's own feelings, desires etc.
46. Patience
The level of endurance under difficult circumstances (delay, provocation, criticism, attack etc.)
one can take before negativity. Patience is a recognized virtue in many religions.
47. Courage
The mental ability and willingness to confront conflicts, fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, despair,
obstacles, vicissitudes or intimidation. Physical courage often extends lives, while moral
courage preserves the ideals of justice and fairness.
48. Humility
A mechanism by which a person, considering their own defects, has a humble self-opinion.
Humility is intelligent self-respect which keeps one from thinking too highly or too meanly of
oneself.
49. Mindfulness
Adopting a particular orientation toward ones experiences in the present moment, an
orientation that is characterized by curiosity, openness, and acceptance.
50. Acceptance
A person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition (often a difficult
or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it, protest, or exit. Religions and
psychological treatments often suggest the path of acceptance when a situation is both disliked
and unchangeable, or when change may be possible only at great cost or risk.

51. Gratitude
A feeling of thankfulness or appreciation involving appreciation of a wide range of people and
events. Gratitude is likely to bring higher levels of happiness, and lower levels of depression and
stress. Throughout history, gratitude has been given a central position in religious and
philosophical theories.
52. Tolerance
The practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves.
53. Mercy
Compassionate behavior on the part of those in power.
54. Forgiveness
Cessation of resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offence, disagreement,
or mistake, or ceasing to demand retribution or restitution.
55. Anticipation
Realistic planning for future discomfort.
56. Emotional self-regulation
The ability to respond to the ongoing demands of experience with the range of emotions in a
manner that is socially tolerable. Emotional self-regulation refers to the processes people use to
modify the type, intensity, duration, or expression of various emotions.
57. Emotional self-sufficiency
Not being dependent on the validation (approval or disapproval) of others.
58. Autistic Fantasy
The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by excessive
daydreaming as a substitute for human relationships, more effective action, or problem solving.

59. Avoidance
A defense mechanism consisting of refusal to encounter situations, objects, or activities
because they represent unconscious sexual or aggressive impulses and/or punishment for
those impulses; avoidance, according to the dynamic theory, is a major defense mechanism in
phobias.

60. Deflection

Also detected when the individual is in group therapy and consists of redirecting attention to
another group member.
61. Fixation
The cessation of the process of development of the personality at a stage short of complete
and uniform mature independence is known as fixation. [regression]

62. Help-Rejecting Complaining

The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by complaining or
making repetitious requests for help that disguise covert feelings or hostility or reproach toward
others, which are then expressed by rejecting the suggestions, advice, or help that others offer.
The complaints or requests may involve physical or psychological symptoms or life problems.
63. Incorporation
The assimilation of the object into one's own ego and/or superego. This is one of the earliest
mechanisms utilized. The parent becomes almost literally a part of the child. Parental values,
preferences, and attitudes are acquired.
64. Resistance
This defense mechanism produces a deep-seated opposition to the bringing of repressed
(unconscious) data to awareness. Through its operation, the individual seeks to avoid
memories or insights which would arouse anxiety.
65. Restitution
The mechanism of relieving the mind of a load of guilt by making up or reparation (paying up
with interest). [reaction formation] [undoing]

66. Self-Assertion
The individual deals with emotional conflict or stressors by expressing his or her feelings and
thoughts directly in a way that is not coercive or manipulative.
67. Somatization
are represented by physical symptoms involving parts of the body innervated by the
sympathetic and parasympathetic system. Example: a highly competitive and aggressive
person, whose life situation requires that such behavior be restricted, develops hypertension.

68. Substitution

Through this defense mechanism, the individual secures alternative or substitutive gratification
comparable to those that would have been employed had frustration not occurred.
69. Symbolization
An object or act represents a complex group of objects and acts, some of which may be
conflictual or unacceptable to the ego; objects or acts stand for a repressed desire. Examples:
(1) a soldier, when asked why he volunteered, he said, "To defend the flag." He rejects as
irrelevant a question about the purpose of the war. (2) a boy asks for a girl's hand (in marriage).
70. Minimizers
Some respond to trauma and the resulting inability to meet particular needs through repression
or suppression of those parts that embody the awareness of those needs.
71. Maximizers
Others respond to trauma and the resulting inability to meet needs by becoming increasingly
obsessive and desperate in their zealous attempts to get those needs met. This may occur as
the particular exiled part burdened by that unmet need takes control of the system, lashing out
in its extreme immature, childish state.
72. Anger
Is the use expression of anger (voice tone, cursing, facial expressions, body jesters,
aggression, violence) to control the situation.
73. Arguing
Is bringing up a controversy to side track the other individual. "My position is that ....don't you
agree that I am right?" (While knowing quite well he/she will disagree.)
74. Blaming
Is laying the judgment for your problems upon someone else. "I could be a good husband if
wasn't for my wife. It is all her fault."
75. Compliance
is giving in to the wishes of another to avoid confrontation. "O.K., I will do whatever you want."

76. Defiance

is daring others to prove that you are wrong. "I challenge you to show me in the Bible where it
says that smoking marijuana is wrong."
77. Explaining
is explaining the problem in minute detail, thinking that that may resolve the problem.
"I first began to look at pornography when I was eight years old. Then when I was ten, I found
some of my dad's girlie magazines. When I was fifteen, I met this girl that was really into
pornography and we looked at it and acted out some. Then when I got a computer ....."
78. Excuses
Is the use of logic that may appear to be acceptable to avoid an issue. "I think you can find
someone more skilled than I to choose for the project."
79. Judgmentalism
Is placing others on a lower spiritual level to cover one's own spiritual inadequacies. "If you
would get some counseling yourself, then I think that I could handle the situation."
80. Justifying
Is trying balance your wrong with the wrong of others. "I wouldn't have to take so many
tranquilizers if my husband wasn't angry all the time."
81. Lying
Is a blatant lie to cover one's back. "No, sir. I wasn't speeding. I have never broken a traffic
law in my life."
82. Analyzing
Is an attempt to explain the cause for your failure, believing that that may resolve the issue. "I
have thought long and hard on the problem and believe that it must have been precipitated from
my exposure to too much violence on the T.V."
83. Manipulation
Is trying to indirectly blame someone else for your difficulty. Then trying to get the other person
to straighten up so that you can. "If you will quite bringing home all that fatty food, I will go on a
diet."
84. Questioning
Is the means of firing questions at the potential intruder to keep him from bringing up
threatening issues in your own life.
85. Shouting

Is using a loud voice to try to control the situation. "Don't tell me to shut up!! I will say what I
want to say!!!"
86. Silence
Is using silence to protect yourself from talking about the problem. This is often the case with
men in marriage. When confronted with the issue, the individual may just walk away or stand
there and say nothing.
87. Threatening
Is using aggression to avoid facing an issue. "Don't ever bring up that topic again or I will make
you wish that you hadn't!"
88. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is the emphasis of a persons needs or thoughts in a manner that is respectful,
Direct and firm.
89. Workaholism
Where you avoid dealing with problems by burying yourself in work. Workaholism could be
considered a form of Distraction (see below), but distraction is something you choose to do, and
many workaholics dont perceive their devotion to the office as a choice so much as a duty.
90. Playing the Victim
To avoid dealing with the problem or feeling responsible for the situation, the victim finds it
easier to make the other person the bad guy and believes that everything happens to them.
They have difficulty taking any ownership for problems (i.e. the breakdown in the relationship)
and are unable to acknowledge they have choices and can take action.
91. Sexualization
Is a way of transforming an experience of pain or terror into pleasurable excitation; the fear of
abandonment or abuse, for example, can be sexualized in order to be felt as gratifying
experiences. It is not unusual that relatively healthy individuals sexualize certain areas of their
lives (dependency, aggression) in order for them to be more bearable.
92. Self-Handicapping
Refers to actions or a statement we make that allows us to avoid responsibility for potential
failures that could damage our self-esteem. It is much more embarrassing and harmful to our
self-esteem to put forth effort and fail than it is to self-handicap and have excuses to why we
failed. Example: Stephen hasnt had to forth much effort in any on his academic endeavors, so
when he came across a challenging course, it was much easier for him to self-handicap than it
was to try, especially since he had not been doing well in the course to begin with. Stephen was

easily able to explain his bad grade away by blaming it on his ski trip and lack of studying, which
are external factors.
93. Sarcasm
Is an ironic or satirical remark that seems to be praising someone or something but is really
taunting or cutting. Sarcasm can be used to hurt or offend or can be used for comic affect.
Example : I work 40 hours a week to be this poor.