Defence Mechanisms

• describe the Tripartite model of the mind

• explain how and why defence mechanisms are formed

• explain what defence mechanisms are

• name few common defence mechanisms and explain them

• give real life examples of defence mechanisms

• The id is the only component of personality that is present from birth.

• This aspect of personality is entirely unconscious and includes of the instinctive and primitive behaviours.

• The id in is need of gratifying impulsive, and instinctual needs

• Driven purely by needs, wants and desires, without regard for consequences (I want it and I want it now)

• The ego is the component of personality that is responsible for dealing with reality.

• According to Freud, the ego develops from the id and ensures that the impulses of the id can be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world.

• The ego functions in conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind.

• Executive functioning

• Strives to satisfy the id's desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways.

• The last component of personality to develop is the superego.

• The superego is the aspect of personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society--our sense of right and wrong.

• The superego provides guidelines for making judgments.

• According to Freud, the superego begins to emerge at around age five.

• Strict adherence to the rules that govern society, everything is either black or white, right or wrong

• Id vs. Super ego conflicts

• When the conflicts in the unconscious rise to a heightened level the conflicts threaten to become manifested in the conscious life of the person

• This is a way to discharge the anxiety created between the unconscious conflicts

• Probably the commonest

• We say “ He is in denial”

• Person refuses to recognize reality

• Denial is an outright refusal to admit or recognize that something has occurred or is currently occurring

• It can partly be conscious

• Eg: A patient admits that he drinks more than is sensible, but denies that it causes him problems, when in fact many of the problems he experience are consequences of their drinking

• Find ways of avoiding having to face uncomfortable situations, things or activities.

• The discomfort, for example, may come from unconscious sexual or aggressive impulses.

• Avoidance may include removing oneself physically from a situation.

• It may also involve finding ways not to discuss or even think about the topic in question.

• Lakmal dislikes a colleague at work. He avoids walking past the desk of that Colleague. When people talk about the colleague , Lakmal says nothing.

• A little boy does not like doing homework. Whenever his father brings the subject of school, he changes the topic. He also avoids looking directly at father.

• Attributing one’s own thoughts, feelings, or motives to another

• Shifting the blame of thoughts/actions to someone else

• A woman who dislikes her boss thinks she likes her boss but feel the boss doesn't like her

• Diverting emotional feelings (usually anger) from their original source to a substitute target

• That is transferring thoughts from original source to another object/person

• Eg:

• After parental scolding, a young girl takes her anger out on her little brother

• Behaving in a way that is exactly the opposite of one’s own true feelings

• Treating a person you strongly dislike in an excessively friendly manner

• Eg: A woman hates her mother-in-law. But when the mother-in-law is around, she is extra kind to her mother-in-law

• A reversion to immature patterns of behaviour (childish behaviours)

• Eg: An adult has a temper tantrum when he doesn't get his way

• Creating false but plausible excuses to justify unacceptable behaviour

• In simple terms, Giving acceptable reasons for a behaviour that are not the real reasons

• Eg:

• A student browse through Facebook, instead of studying, saying that “additional study wouldn’t do any good anyway”

• Performing an extreme behaviour in order to express thoughts or feelings the person feels incapable of otherwise expressing.

• When a person acts out, it can act as a pressure release, and often helps the individual feel calmer and peaceful once again.

• Eg:

• A child throws a temper tantrum when he or she doesn’t get his or her way with a parent

• Instead of saying, “I’m angry with you,” a person who acts out may instead throw a book at the person, or punch a hole through a wall.

• Self injury, expressing in physical pain what one cannot stand to feel emotionally.

• Bolstering self-esteem by forming an imaginary or real alliance with some person or group

• An insecure young man joins a sub culture or a clique to boost his self-esteem

• Person channels energy from unacceptable impulses to create socially acceptable accomplishments

• A person experiencing extreme anger might take up kick-boxing as a means of venting frustration

• Ignoring the emotional aspects of a painful experience by focusing on abstract thoughts, words, or ideas

• A person who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness might focus on learning everything about the disease in order to avoid distress and remain distant from the reality of the situation

• Eg: A person who is depressed, would start writing a book

• Raman's friends and family believe that he has a drinking problem. When Raman is confronted by his loved ones, he claims that his drinking is not problematic. Which of the following defence mechanism best describes Raman's response? a) Repression b) Rationalization c) Denial d) Displacement

• Thamara complains about her job duties at work, rarely completes assigned tasks, and is regularly late for work. When she is fired, she claims it was due to her co-worker badmouthing her instead of blaming it on her own poor work performance. Which of the following defence mechanism best explains Thamara's reaction? a) Displacement b) Denial c) Rationalization d) Sublimation

• Clare dislikes public speaking. She stops going to school, changes jobs, and declines most social engagements to ensure that she does not have to speak in public. Clare's behaviour is an example of which defence mechanism? a) Denial b) Avoidance c) Sublimation d) Rationalization

• Mary has an argument with her boss, but remains calm while at work. When she gets home that evening, she yells at her spouse and children. Which defence mechanism is Mary displaying? a) Rationalization b) Denial c) Reaction Formation d) Displacement Sameera often experiences intense feelings of anger and frustration. In order to cope with these feelings, he enrolls in a Karate class as an outlet for his emotions. Which of the following defence mechanism is an example of Sameera’s behaviour? a) Sublimation b) Projection c) Displacement d) Repression

• Greg learns that he has a cancer. He begins to learn everything he can about the illness, reading books, journal articles, and the latest experimental research. Which of the following defence mechanism best describes Greg's response to his diagnosis? • a) Intellectualization b) Regression c) Sublimation d) Repression

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