Defence Defence MechanismsMechanisms

a way to protect our ego

What are Defence What are Defence Mechanisms?Mechanisms?

DEFINITION: unconscious mental processes that distort

reality in order to protect the ego against

anxiety, shame, or other unacceptable

feelings or thoughts

• Humans use defence mechanisms to deal with problems, anxiety, and self-esteem issues – these processes allow our mind to hide/change a

problem so that it won’t bother us in a conscious way– we use defence mechanisms to varying extends

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

COMPENSATION • Making up for a weakness in one area by excelling in another

• EXAMPLE:

“I’m a lover, not a fighter”

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

DAYDREAMING(aka. Escapism)

• Fantasizing to escape reality

• EXAMPLE:

Thinking about the “big dance,” rather than

focussing on the exam tomorrow which is

causing you anxiety

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

DENIAL • Refusing to acknowledge

• EXAMPLE:

Denying that your physician’s diagnosis of cancer is correct.

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

DISPLACEMENT • taking out impulses on a less threatening target

• EXAMPLE:

Slamming a door instead of hitting a

person.

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

IDENTIFICATION • Taking on the roles of others

• EXAMPLE:

A school girl wants her mother to buy her the same kind of shoes that her classmates

are wearing.

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

MINIMIZING • “Writing off” problematic events of behaviors as being too minor to worry about

• EXAMPLE:

Someone who has a substance addiction

response to criticisms by saying, “Oh its nothing; I only do it socially, and can quit whenever I

want.”

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

PROJECTION • Putting your own faults onto someone else

• EXAMPLE:

Having hostile feelings about an acquaintance, but saying instead that,

“He/She doesn’t like me.”

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

RATIONALIZATION • Using an excuse to cope with bad behaviour

• EXAMPLE:

Stating that you were fired because you didn’t kiss

your boss, when the real reason was that you

were showing up late.

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

REACTION FORMATION

• Taking the opposite belief because the true belief causes you anxiety

• EXAMPLE:

A man violently dislikes an employee; without being

aware of do so, he “bends over backwards”

to not criticize the employee and gives him

special privileges and advances.

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

REGRESSION • Reverting to immature behaviour to express your emotions

• EXAMPLE:

Throwing a temper tantrum when you don’t get your way.

Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms

SUBLIMATION • Acting out unacceptable impulses in a socially acceptable way

• EXAMPLE:

Acting out on aggressive impulses by becoming a boxer.

Your Task…Your Task…

What’s Our Defence Mechanism?

In small groups of 3 – 5, you will be assigned one defence mechanism. Create a brief skit (2 – 3 mins.) that

demonstrates your understanding of this mechanism.

DO NOT TELL YOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES THE DEFENCE MECHANISM YOU ARE PRESENTING!

It will be their job to guess after your presentation.

Your Task…continuedYour Task…continuedEvaluation

For this task, you will be given a group mark outof 10 marks. This mark will be broken down as follows:

Knowledge & Understanding/ 5 marksHow well your skit demonstrates your understanding of your chosen defence mechanism.

Communication / 5 marksYour dramatic presentation (eye contact, level of voice, length of presentation, etc.)

Which Defence Mechanism is Which Defence Mechanism is it?it?

• Kati didn’t get her way. She stomped up the steps, threw her stuffed animals around the room, and cried.

• Rob got a terrible report card. He became the best basketball player on his team.

• Kristin imagined herself scoring the winning goal in the state championship soccer game.

• Jarred was fired from his summer job because he was always late. He said it was his mom’s fault for not waking him up on time.

• Mrs. Smith’s husband died 3 months ago. She still sets his place at the dinner table.

Which Defence Mechanism is Which Defence Mechanism is it?it?

• Debbie feels guilty for stealing some jewellery. She shows the jewellery to her friends and brags about how she got it.

• Danny got into a lot of arguments, so he decided to join the debate team.

• Heather was furious with her sister, so she screamed at the family dog to get away from her.

• Denise likes a certain rock group so she dresses and talks like they do.

• Tony stole five packs of baseball cards at a card show. He figured it didn’t matter because the vendor had thousands of packs.

Individual ReflectionIndividual Reflection

What is your defence mechanism? Think back over your life experiences. Have you

ever caught yourself using one of Freud’s defence mechanisms?

In a two (2) page, double-spaced reflection, discuss your thoughts about Freud’s idea of

defence mechanisms and the mechanisms you have used throughout your life and

experiences.

Application = / 10 marks