Defense Mechanisms

Definition: A mental

maneuver that one consciously or unconsciously chooses to use to distort or falsify the truth of ones experience in order to protect oneself from feeling painful emotions like shame, guilt, or anxiety.

LYING
One doesnt tell the truth

for either self-gain or to spare feeling ridicule, rejection, or punishment. Phrases like I swear I didnt do it, or It doesnt mean anything are often used when we know we havent lived up to our higher selves. In what circumstances do you think people lie the most?

RATIONALIZATION
Occurs when we tell an

element of the truth, but deny the larger truth of the matter. For example, I could have won the race but the track was wet. The larger truth was that someone was faster. I got fired, but the boss was a jerk. Failures are a threat to the ego rationalization doesnt hurt as bad.

REGRESSION
When adult defense

mechanisms stop working for us, we regress to a personality we had at childhood. For example, when an adult doesnt take responsibility, he says, Its not my fault, its her fault. Immature patterns of behavior emerge such as bragging.

REPRESSION
The person forces the

unacceptable or threatening feeling out of awareness to a point where he/she becomes unaware of it. Examples could be a simple reprimand or as serious as a rape. A person is asked, how do you get along with your mother and he responds, just fine as he turns pale. Negative feelings about the mother are so unacceptable that they block his awareness.

DENIAL
The person doesnt

acknowledge the validity of the matter but acknowledges its presence. They oppose force with force. For example, the alcoholic expresses, I may like to drink, but Im not an alcoholic. Or a smoker concludes that the evidence linking cigarette use to health problems is bogus.

SUPPRESSION
The person is aware of the

unacceptable desire and validates it but intentionally tries to keep it from expressing itself. For example, I know Im an alcoholic so Im going on the wagon. A homosexual who intentionally doesnt date members of the same sex so that the unacceptable does not express itself. An introvert is conditioned to be an extrovert. He often suppress anger.

PROJECTION
The person attributes

ones own perceived negative attributes onto someone else. For example, Bill blames the instructor for a bad grade when he didnt study. Sara says, You envy me, when Sara really envies the other person. Sam cheats on his spouse and blames the spouse for cheating.

Which Defense Mechanisms Do You Use the Most?

Lying
Rationalization Distraction

Regression
Repression Denial Suppression Projection

Remove Defense Mechanisms by

Reading about them
Writing about your feelings and actions Talking to a close friend or therapist

Meditating
Praying EFT

Name the Defense Mechanism

Joe is mad at Sue as he grits his teeth. Sue asks,

are you mad at me, and he replies, No, Im not mad at all as he puts a smile on his face.

Name the Defense Mechanism

The person who doesnt study says, the F grade I

got on the test was totally unfair.

Name the Defense Mechanism

Karl, a tax accountant teacher instructs his students

to follow the rules of tax law but later Karl cheats on his taxes.

Name the Defense Mechanism

Bill Gates tells you your reply is illogical and you

reply, youre the illogical one! Im smarter than you anyway.

Name the Defense Mechanism

Cheating on my taxes is no big deal. Everybody

does it