1 DEFENSE MECHANISM These are automatic and usually unconscious processes or act by the individuals to: R educe or cope anxiety or fear Resolve emotional or mental conflict Protect one's self-esteem Protect one's sense of security Becomes pathologic when overused.

2 DEFENSE MECHANISMS COMPENSATION An attempt to overcome a real or imagined short coming, inferiority, inabilities and weaknesses. EX. A blind woman becomes proficient in playing piano.

3 DEFENSE MECHANISMS CONVERSION Emotional problems are converted to physical symptoms. EX. A student unprepared for a report suffered headache the day she is supposed to deliver her report.

4 DEFENSE MECHANISMS DENIAL Failure to acknowledge an intolerable thought, feeling, experience or reality EX. A middle-aged man after being admitted to the CCU because of an AMI, insists that he is in the hospital for just a diagnostic work-up.

5 DEFENSE MECHANISMS DISPLACEMENT The redirection of feelings to a less threatening object EX. An adolescent boy, after an argument with his father, goes to the room and kicked his room’s door.

6 DEFENSE MECHANISMS DISSOCIATION The unconscious separation of painful feelings and emotions from an unacceptable idea, situation, or object. A pretty nurse tells how important to review months before the board exam…. But failed to remember her past board failures. E.g. Rape, trauma

7 DEFENSE MECHANISMS FANTASY Conscious distortion of unconscious feelings or wishes A boy who is being bullied by his friends wished he had the power of Wolverine.

8 DEFENSE MECHANISMS IDENTIFICATION A conscious or unconscious attempt to model oneself after a respected person. “I want to be just like you… a very good reviewer …… nurse

9 DEFENSE MECHANISMS INTROJECTION Unconsciously incorporating wishes, values, attitudes of others as if they were your own. While her mother is gone, a young girl disciplines her brother just like her mother would.

10 DEFENSE MECHANISMS PROJECTION Blaming someone else for one’s difficulties or placing one’s unethical desires on someone else. EX. A student who failed a subject blames his failure on poor teaching.

11 DEFENSE MECHANISMS REACTION FORMATION A conscious behavior that is the exact opposite of an unconscious feeling. EX. An older brother who dislikes his younger brother sends him gifts for every holiday.

12 DEFENSE MECHANISMS RATIONALIZATION An individual finds a justifiable cause and acceptable reasons just to be saved from an embarrassing and anxiety producing thoughts or situations. EX. A basketball player claims that he missed the shot and lost the game because of the distractions made by the audience.

13 DEFENSE MECHANISMS REGRESSION Return to earlier and more comfortable developmental level. EX. An examinee went directly to her room and sleeps in fetal position and thumb sucks after knowing she failed the board exam.

14 DEFENSE MECHANISMS REPRESSION Unconscious and involuntary forgetting of painful ideas, events and conflicts. EX. A nursing student who failed the recent board exam, can’t remember any of the questions asked.

15 DEFENSE MECHANISMS SUPPRESSION Voluntary exclusion from awareness, anxiety-producing feelings, ideas and situations. EX. A nursing student states, “I cannot talk about my recent board, please change the topic.”

16 DEFENSE MECHANISMS SUBSTITUTION Replacing the desired unattainable goal with one that is attainable. Ex. A woman who failed the nursing board exam 3 times, worked as a nursing aide just to be in the hospital.

17 DEFENSE MECHANISMS SUBLIMATION Channeling instinctual drives into acceptable activities. A former hitman, talks about the importance of life, democracy, justice, and following laws of the land.”

18 DEFENSE MECHANISMS SYMBOLIZATION Less threatening object is used to represent another. EX. A woman, missing her husband finds comfort in hugging her son who looks like his father.

19 DEFENSE MECHANISMS UNDOING An attempt to erase an act, thought, feeling, guilt or desire Ex. A man gives her wife a bunch of roses after their argument last night