General Information
• Defense mechanisms are a set of cognitive processes that the ego (ego) uses to protect itself from anxiety caused by unconscious conflicts.
• Defense mechanisms can be mature (mature) or immature, depending on whether they are suitable for reality and how they affect one's adaptation to the environment.
• As defense mechanisms are used by healthy people, inappropriate use of various defense mechanisms plays a role in the development of some psychiatric disorders.
• Some defense mechanisms are described below.
Suppression
It is the pushing out of the consciousness of memories and experiences that may cause anxiety in the self.
Denial
Ignoring the existence of objective facts that cause discomfort to the self
The difference from suppression is that it ignores an objective reality in the outside world, not a memory/experience in one's own.
For example, a mother whose son died puts extra plates on the table as if her son had not died.
Projection
It is the person's seeing the negative emotions, impulses and thoughts in himself as if they were in others.
For example, a person with anger and resentment might think "they are angry with me, they hate me".
Substitution
It is the directing of an impulse or emotion from its original object to another object.
For example, a young person who has a deep anger towards his mother may turn this anger towards others. When you get angry with your boss at the place you work, treat your children badly when they come home, and what a person does is relocation.
It may play a role in the development of specific phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Counter-Reaction (Reaction-Formation)
It is the reaction of the person against the unconscious forbidden impulses and tendencies within himself.
For example, being extremely kind and gentle despite the grudge, hatred and rudeness tendencies is a counter-reaction.
It may play a role in the development of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Sublimation
It is changing the goal and purpose of sexual energy or other urges, thus transforming them into a form that is considered more beneficial for the person and society.
An example is the conversion of aggression energy into sports activities.
It is a mature defense mechanism.