References:
- Course Module
- Lecturer (Jimenez)
“Coping” is any effort done to reduce stress responses. It may be constructive; task-oriented (direct problem solving) or defense-oriented (regulate stress via defense mechanisms), or destructive, where the individual often avoid the problem. A coping mechanism operates on a conscious level of awareness.
“Defense Mechanisms” also known as “ego defense mechanisms” or “protective defenses” are patterns of behavior or thought utilized to protect oneself from threatening internal or external aspects. It allows an individual to maintain control, safety, self-esteem, lessen discomfort, cope with stress, and decrease anxiety. A defense mechanism operates on an unconscious level of awareness.
Normal and Adaptive Mechanism
Persons who effectively utilize these mechanisms are perceived as virtuous. These mechanisms enhance the individual’s feeling of mastery and pleasure.
- Anticipation: planning ahead for realistic expectations.
- Compensation: making up for imagined or actual handicaps or deficiency through other means; overachieving in one area to compensate for perceived deficiencies in another. Someone lacking athletic ability might excel in academics.
- Compromise: give-and-take dynamics; often seen in relationships.
- Sublimation: channeling socially unacceptable behavior to a socially acceptable one. It is the most constructive defense mechanism. An individual with aggressive tendencies might become a competitive athlete to channel their aggression constructively.
- Humor: seeing the lighter side of the situation.
Narcissistic Defense Mechanism
The most primitive mechanism often utilized by children. These mechanisms eliminate the need to cope with reality.
- Denial: refusal to acknowledge reality or the truth to avoid facing a painful situation. For instance, a person with a drinking problem might insist they don’t have an issue despite evidence to the contrary.
- Projection: blaming others for one’s own undesirable feelings, thoughts, or traits to others. An individual who is competitive and sees winning as crucial may accuse others of being overly competitive.
- Fantasy: gratification of wishes through imagination.
Immature Defense Mechanism
Often seen in adolescents and some non-psychotic individuals; it lessens distress and anxiety-provoking situations. Excessive use of these defenses are seen as socially undesirable (immature, difficulty, out-of-touch).
- Conversion: transferring emotional conflict into physical symptoms without medical basis. This can manifest as paralysis or other sensory deficits. For instance, intense anxiety might lead to temporary leg paralysis.
- Malingering: fabrication of ailments.
- Fixation: psychosocial development ceases to advance.
- Regression: returning to previous developmental stages— behaviors and patterns of earlier stages of development as a way to cope with stress. An adult under stress might start biting their nails, a habit from childhood.
- Identification: unconscious attempts to change oneself as another, admired person. Taking on characteristics of someone else to reduce anxiety by feeling secure with one’s self-concept.
- Introjection: sub-type of identification in which a person incorporates beliefs or values of other individuals into themselves. Incorporating external beliefs into one’s identity without critically evaluating them. Someone might internalize a parent’s strong political beliefs without questioning them.
- Intellectualization: excessive reasoning to obscure feelings. Dealing with emotions by focusing excessively on facts, logic, and intellectual aspects of a situation. Faced with loss, someone might research grief instead of experiencing their emotions.
- Suppression: consciously pushing distressing thoughts, emotions, or memories out of awareness. A student might consciously suppress thoughts about an upcoming exam to avoid feeling anxious.
- Isolation: blocking feelings associated with unpleasant experiences; may be physical or emotional.
- Symbolism: conscious use of an alternate idea or object to represent another idea or object.
Neurotic Defense Mechanisms
Often seen in obsessive-compulsive, hysterical individuals and adults under stress. These are advantageous in short-term coping situations, but can cause long-term problems in relationships and life if used as a primary coping method.
- Displacement: releasing anger in a less threatening way; redirecting emotions, usually anger, onto a safer target. If frustrated by a boss, someone might take out their anger on their family.
- Dissociation: blocking off events from the conscious mind (e.g., amnesia). Separating oneself from reality or a situation to avoid distressing emotions. This can result in feeling disconnected or observing experiences from a distance.
- Substitution: replacing original goals or desires with a more attainable one. Someone unable to pursue a dream career might focus on building a fulfilling personal life.
- Rationalization: justification of behavior to make them acceptable. The individual creates logical explanations or justifications for behaviors or situations to make them appear less threatening. Someone passed over for a promotion might say they didn’t want it anyway.
- Reaction Formation: reacting in a way that is opposite of what is felt. Expressing the opposite of one’s true feelings as a way to manage uncomfortable emotions. Someone disliking a coworker might be overly friendly.
- Repression: involuntary forgetfulness of unacceptable thoughts— pushing distressing thoughts or memories out of conscious awareness. Someone might have no memory of a car accident due to repression.
- Undoing: engaging in behaviors opposite of previous unacceptable actions. Engaging in actions to counteract a previous undesirable action. Someone berating their partner might later buy them gifts as a way of compensating.