Defense mechanisms are the unconscious psychological tactics to avoid unpleasant events. Actually, these are emotional shields, which Sigmund Freud introduced. These tactics are invaluable to avoid unpleasant events at the time, but excessive usage of Defence mechanisms leads to distress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders.
What are defense mechanisms?
As individuals, we all use defense mechanisms. Sometimes these defense mechanisms protect us from guilt and unacceptable behavior. Sometimes they provide emotional support for us to feel satisfied. However, according to Sigmund Freud, the excessive use of ego defense mechanisms creates psychological disorders and disturbs inner peace.
For example, if an individual constantly convinces himself that things are going well, while the reality is the opposite. The person unconsciously knows that things are not going well and does not even try to solve them. As a result, this unconscious mind creates stress and a state of uneasiness all the time. There are some kinds of defense mechanisms, some of which have positive effects and some have negative effects. In this article, we will discuss the defense mechanism and its impact on the human mind.
Types of defense mechanisms.
The concept of defense mechanisms was introduced by Sigmund Freud, and his daughter Anna Freud, Significantly, expended and defined many specific mechanisms. The most used mechanisms are denial, repression, projection, rationalization, displacement, sublimation, regression, and reaction formation.
Denial
Denial is the complete rejection of events, especially traumatic experiences. E.g., the demise of a close relative or loved one. The person completely denies the reality and feel like if nothing happens.
This is the mind’s strategy to avoid itself from emotional pain, anxiety, and psychological distress. This tactic can reduce pain for a while, but long-term denial can lead to severe anxiety and depression.
Repression
Repression is a type of defense mechanism where our mind unconsciously blocks distressing events or memories. Over time, these memories simply disappear from our consciousness.
For example, an adult may repress parental abuse, but these repressed thoughts may later make it difficult to establish positive relationships with their own partner.
Projection
You blame your unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses on someone else, which allows you to avoid facing them internally and reduces anxiety. For example, a person who is cheating on their marital partner will be suspicious of their partner. Here, they subconsciously look for their negative attributes within their partner.
Rationalization
Is a type of defense mechanism where people use logical but false explanations and reasoning behind an unpleasant event, thought, or behavior.
For example, if a person blames his exam center for a bad result instead of studying. This would be a rational excuse. This could lead to stress and unease if not treated positively.
Displacement
It’s a defense mechanism where the person redirects negative emotions (like anger, guilt, and frustration) towards a safer object, instead of the source.
For example, yelling at your partner after a bad day at the office. In another example, beating your younger sibling after beaten by your mom. Where you look for a safer reason (your younger sibling), as a replacement for the source (your mom).
Sublimation
Is a type of defense mechanism where the socially unacceptable motives, desires, and actions are redirected into socially accepted activities.
For example, aggressive tendencies can be directed into sports and other adventurous activities like mountain climbing, Boxing, MMA fighting, etc.
Regression
Is the type of ego defense mechanism where an individual sometimes splits his personality into childish ones. Here,e a person goes back to their childhood stages, behaves like a child to cope with stress and anxiety.
For example, having a temper in a cricket match and yelling after being bowled out.
Reaction formation
It’s the type of defense mechanism where people unconsciously behave contrary to their desired intentions.
For example, showing excessive kindness to those you hate the most.
Advantages and disadvantages of defense mechanisms.
Relying on defense mechanisms gives us temporary relief from stress and anxiety. However, always using defense mechanisms creates a hollowness within us. According to Sigmund Freud, people use defense mechanisms to escape temporary pressure instead of solving the pressure and threatening events. Unconsciously, people themselves know that using new defense mechanisms has not done any good. Due to which a person always lives in uneasiness.