10 Psychological Defense Mechanisms

7. Sublimation

The refocusing of unacceptable impulses, thoughts, and/or emotions into more acceptable ones. For example, a person who is experiencing aggressive impulses instead channels that energy into rigorous exercise.

8. Dissociation

The detachment from reality and from one’s self, and the finding of another representation of self to cope with extreme stress or conflict. A person who uses dissociation as a defense mechanism “disconnects” from reality and lives in their own world, in which they do not experience unbearable thoughts, feelings, or memories for a period of time.

9. Intellectualization

Overthinking and the misdirection of focus when confronted with unacceptable situations, behaviors, or impulses. For example, a person who has been told a close family member has died begins to focus on and overthinks the details of planning a funeral, etc., instead of expressing their grief.

10. Compensation

The counterbalancing of perceived flaws or weaknesses by instead emphasizing strengths. For example, a person says they can’t draw but they’re really good at dancing.

Note: Defense mechanisms 1 through 7 are also known as the 7 Major Freudian Defense Mechanisms.  Regression, Dissociation, Projection and Reaction Formation are primitive defense mechanisms; Displacement, Intellectualization and Rationalization are less primitive, more mature defense mechanisms; and Sublimation and Compensation are mature defense mechanisms. Though Repression and Denial have been grouped together in this list, Denial is a primitive defense mechanism and Repression is a less primitive, more mature defense mechanism.

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment letting me know your thoughts on this article.

Sources:

Stangor, C. Introduction to Psychology (p. 340). Flat World Knowledge.

Grohol, J. (2013). 15 Common Defense Mechanisms. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-defense-mechanisms/

Edited By: Lizzie Watson

Edited by: Holley McLane.