1. TOPIC 29 DEFENSE MECHANISMS

2. P3 Help you deal productively with workplace dramas

3. Dysfunctional employee behaviors function to compensate for personal or professional inadequacies or insecurities = Psychological self-protection in the workplace from personal & professional stressors

4. COMPENSATION Trying to make-up for something negative in your personal life with something positive in your professional life

5. CONVERSION Converting psych problems into physical (psychosomatic) problems

6. DISPLACEMENT Taking out your anger at person A on person B (subordinates, co- workers, family)

7. FANTACIZING Daydreaming your way through the work day to avoid boredom & routine

8. FIXATION Obsessing about workplace gossip, controversies, or interpersonal conflicts (to spice up your work life with constant dramas)

9. IDENTIFICATION Feeling you’re somebody by associating with high status co- workers or org activities

10. FLIGHT Escaping workplace realities & responsibilities

11. NEGATIVISM Being critical of workplace events that violate your personal ideals

12. RATIONALIZATION Trying to justify what bothers your conscience

13. WITHDRAWAL Psychologically hiding from workplace realities that distress you

14. RODERICK WELLER Homefare Stores warehouse maintenance supervisor

15. 1.Spends lunch hour talking to employees about dept. conflicts (fixation) 2. Loses his temper and fires someone; justifies it on grounds that the employee commuted a long distance to work each day (rationalization)

16. 3.Skips out of warehouse when things get especially hectic & stressful (flight) 4.Sometimes goes home early with a bad headache aft er conflict episodes (conversion)

17. 5.Yells at forklift operators whenever one of their buddies misses work (displacement) 6.At least once a day talks about winning the company bowling league (fantasy)

18. Takes up the same hobbies as Jackie, the warehouse manager (identification)

19. What should the company do with Rod? (They already have--Rod started out as their sales manager.)

20. M A K I N G P L A Y S!

21. 1.Know what your own DMs are. 2.Don’t try to be a psychologist, just be insightful about co-worker imperfection.s 3.Help co-workers help themselves via the fact- feeling dialectic.