Blueprint —-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defense Mechanisms
DEFENSE MECHANISMS
- Automatic coping style that protect pt from anxiety + maintain self-image by
blocking feelings, conflicts, memories
- MOST = unconscious
COMPENSATION
- Covering up real/perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strengths @other areas
- Adaptive:
- EX: young man who fails at sports studies hard and becomes
valedictorian of his class
- Maladaptive:
- EX: individual drinks alc when self-esteem is low to temporarily diffuse
discomfort
DENIAL
, - Refusing to face the existence of unpleasant real situations or the associated
feelings
- Adaptive:
- EX: man reacts to news of the death of a loved one saying “No, I dont
believe you. The doctor aid he was fine.”
- Maladaptive:
- EX: woman still talks about her son in present tense after he died
several years ago
DISPLACEMENT
- Transfer of feelings from one target to another thats considered less
threatening than original source of feelings
- Adaptive:
- EX: after being berated in public by her boss, a woman goes home and
argues w/her neighbor over a parking space
- Maladaptive:
- EX: child who is unable to acknowledge fear of his father becomes
fearful of animals
, DISASSOCIATION
- Sudden separation of mental or behavioral processes from rest of persons
consciousness or identity
- Adaptive:
- EX: person is able to “tune out” noise and
- distraction in order to work.distraction in order to work
- Maladaptive:
- EX: result of an abusive childhood + need to separate from the
thoughts + need to separate from the thoughts, a woman disconnects
from reality woman disconnects from reality
PROJECTION
- Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person-
blaming/scapegoating
- Adaptive:
- Immature mechanism — NO EX!
- Maladaptive:
Defense Mechanisms
DEFENSE MECHANISMS
- Automatic coping style that protect pt from anxiety + maintain self-image by
blocking feelings, conflicts, memories
- MOST = unconscious
COMPENSATION
- Covering up real/perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strengths @other areas
- Adaptive:
- EX: young man who fails at sports studies hard and becomes
valedictorian of his class
- Maladaptive:
- EX: individual drinks alc when self-esteem is low to temporarily diffuse
discomfort
DENIAL
, - Refusing to face the existence of unpleasant real situations or the associated
feelings
- Adaptive:
- EX: man reacts to news of the death of a loved one saying “No, I dont
believe you. The doctor aid he was fine.”
- Maladaptive:
- EX: woman still talks about her son in present tense after he died
several years ago
DISPLACEMENT
- Transfer of feelings from one target to another thats considered less
threatening than original source of feelings
- Adaptive:
- EX: after being berated in public by her boss, a woman goes home and
argues w/her neighbor over a parking space
- Maladaptive:
- EX: child who is unable to acknowledge fear of his father becomes
fearful of animals
, DISASSOCIATION
- Sudden separation of mental or behavioral processes from rest of persons
consciousness or identity
- Adaptive:
- EX: person is able to “tune out” noise and
- distraction in order to work.distraction in order to work
- Maladaptive:
- EX: result of an abusive childhood + need to separate from the
thoughts + need to separate from the thoughts, a woman disconnects
from reality woman disconnects from reality
PROJECTION
- Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person-
blaming/scapegoating
- Adaptive:
- Immature mechanism — NO EX!
- Maladaptive:
