10 Defense Mechanisms: What Are They and How They Help Us Cope
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Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies we use to cope with difficult life experiences. They can help us feel better in difficult situations and protect us from negative emotions. Here are 10 defense mechanisms:
1. Denial: When confronted with something we don’t want to face, we often try to avoid it by denying it exists. We might say, “This didn’t happen,” or “It’s unimportant.”
2. Projection: We blame our problems on other people or things. For example, we might say, “I’m a terrible driver,” or “My partner always makes me angry.”
3. Rationalization: We try to make our actions or thoughts seem acceptable by finding reasons. For example, we might say, “I had no choice,” or “It’s not that bad.”
4. Reaction formation: We try to avoid feeling negative emotions by behaving in a way opposite our natural tendencies. For example, we might become very quiet or isolate ourselves from others.
5. Deflection: We focus on positive things instead of the thing we don’t want to deal with. For example, we might think about how happy we are instead of how upset we are.
6. Intellectualization: We try to understand the situation in a way that doesn’t involve emotions. For example, we might think about the events in complicated terms or ask ourselves questions instead of getting angry.
7. Displacement: We take our anger out on something else, such as our partner, parents, or cat.
8. Reaction formation with regression: We return to our childhood behavior in response to a current challenge. For example, we might act like sulky children or withdraw from friends and family.
9. Apathy: We pretend to be unaffected by the situation. For example, we might not cry or become angry.
10. Masochism: We endure pain to feel a sense of control or pleasure. For example, we might stay in an abusive relationship or eat unhealthy foods to feel sick.