DEFENSE MECHANISM Mr Lauta Psychology Shenandoah Valley Physical

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DEFENSE MECHANISM Mr. Lauta Psychology Shenandoah Valley

DEFENSE MECHANISM Mr. Lauta Psychology Shenandoah Valley

Physical vs. Psychological • Just as our bodies are attacked by germs and poisons,

Physical vs. Psychological • Just as our bodies are attacked by germs and poisons, so is the mind • Threatening circumstances in life which can overwhelm the mind can cause us to become ill

Four Ways to Deal with Conflict 1. Attack/fight - Stand your ground 2. Take

Four Ways to Deal with Conflict 1. Attack/fight - Stand your ground 2. Take flight - Retreat Avoid 3. Reinterpret/ compromise - Does the threat pose a danger? 4. Use defense mechanisms - when 3 above fail

Defense Mechanisms • Unconscious distortions of reality • Done to spare us from anxiety

Defense Mechanisms • Unconscious distortions of reality • Done to spare us from anxiety and stress • Examples: you lose a game, you get fired from a job, you don’t get what you want

DEFENSE MECHANISM • The Fox and the Grapes: An Aesop's Fable One hot summer's

DEFENSE MECHANISM • The Fox and the Grapes: An Aesop's Fable One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst, " quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour. "

Defense Mechanism: Rationalization • Rationalization is that which people use to justify questionable choices

Defense Mechanism: Rationalization • Rationalization is that which people use to justify questionable choices or actions – Robin Hood is a thief • • rationalized his crime by “stealing from the rich to give to the poor” Two types: 1. “sour grapes” – rationalize pain of failure; “prize” not worth the effort 2. “sweet lemons” – same as “sour grapes” but phrased differently (“That team should be in a different league than us. Their school is larger and more competitive. We had no chance of beating them. ”)

Defense Mechanism: Projection • Taking our own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them

Defense Mechanism: Projection • Taking our own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people. • Avoids taking responsibility for own shortcomings and failures For example, if you have a strong dislike for someone, you might instead believe that he or she does not like you.

Defense Mechanism: Projection • A person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses placed onto another

Defense Mechanism: Projection • A person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses placed onto another person who does not have those thoughts, feelings or impulses. • Projection is often the result of a lack of insight and acknowledgement of one’s own motivations and feelings. For example, a spouse may be angry at her significant other for not listening, when in fact it is the she who does not listen.

Defense Mechanism: Displacement • An emotion is transferred from its original source to a

Defense Mechanism: Displacement • An emotion is transferred from its original source to a more accessible substitute – Ex. (Positive Displacement) a widow transfers her affection from her deceased husband onto her cat

Defense Mechanism: Displacement • redirecting of thoughts feelings and impulses directed at one person

Defense Mechanism: Displacement • redirecting of thoughts feelings and impulses directed at one person or object, but taken out upon another person or object Ex. (Negative Displacement)You are upset with your boss. You go home and kick the dog, punching the wall, or argue with your spouse. Why?

Displacement

Displacement

Defense Mechanism: Fantasy • An imagined sequence of events or mental images used to

Defense Mechanism: Fantasy • An imagined sequence of events or mental images used to gratify unconscious wishes • A temporary “escape” from the real world • Example daydreaming

Defense Mechanism: Sublimation • Channeling unacceptable impulses, thoughts and emotions into acceptable ones –

Defense Mechanism: Sublimation • Channeling unacceptable impulses, thoughts and emotions into acceptable ones – Rigorous exercise – Use of humor • Ex. Mike Tyson – He channeled his aggressive and sexual feelings into boxing – Later in life, imprisoned for rape, accused of assault numerous times

Defense Mechanism: Repression • Unacceptable thoughts or impulses are pushed or repressed into the

Defense Mechanism: Repression • Unacceptable thoughts or impulses are pushed or repressed into the unconscious • They may reappear in disguised form – Dreams, slips of the longue, or in therapy • (photo) lost limbs – repression of horrible experience

Fixation • Fixated at a certain stage of development • Addiction or fixation •

Fixation • Fixated at a certain stage of development • Addiction or fixation • Dennis Rodman – Development of sexual roles – Change of hair color – Infantile behavior – Drag-queen attire

Defense Mechanism: Reaction Formation • Adopting attitudes and behavior which are the opposite of

Defense Mechanism: Reaction Formation • Adopting attitudes and behavior which are the opposite of impulses an individual harbors, either consciously or unconsciously • Example: a person leads a crusade against smoking but is a smoker himself/herself

Reaction Formation - Television evangelists (1980 s) - Jim Bakker - Jimmy Swaggart

Reaction Formation - Television evangelists (1980 s) - Jim Bakker - Jimmy Swaggart

Denial • Defense mechanism used when confronted with an intolerable reality • A person

Denial • Defense mechanism used when confronted with an intolerable reality • A person refuses to accept painful truths

Regression • Reverting to childlike behavior – Shouting – Whining – Crying

Regression • Reverting to childlike behavior – Shouting – Whining – Crying

Defense Mechanism: Compensation • Counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other areas •

Defense Mechanism: Compensation • Counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other areas • Done to reinforce a person’s self-esteem and self-image • “I may not know to cook, but I can sure do the dishes!”

 • • • http: //psychology. about. com/od/theoriesofpersonality/ss/defensemech_7. htm http: //psychcentral. com/lib/15 -common-defense-mechanisms/0001251? all=1

• • • http: //psychology. about. com/od/theoriesofpersonality/ss/defensemech_7. htm http: //psychcentral. com/lib/15 -common-defense-mechanisms/0001251? all=1 http: //static. toondoo. com/public/m/b/r/mbritt/toons/cool-cartoon-1068520. png http: //www. thedailysheeple. com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Scapegoating. jpg