04 Jul Uncovering the Layers of Defense Mechanisms: Understanding How We Protect Ourselves
Stress and trauma bombard the human psyche throughout childhood and adulthood. In the 19th century, Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, pioneered examining how people develop cognitions to manage stressors. Freud identified that individuals develop various defense mechanisms to protect themselves from further harm using subconscious defenses of the id, ego, and superego.
The initial defense mechanisms proposed by Freud were later more clearly defined by his daughter, Anna Freud, in the twentieth century. She created ten primary defense mechanisms, defining them as “unconscious resources used by the ego” to help resolve stress and anxiety:
• Repression involves blocking an impulse from consciousness. Examples include blocking conscious awareness of a traumatic event, such as sexual abuse. Research in the 2007 Journal of Behavioral Medicine identified risks related to repression, including non-expression of negative emotions, defensiveness, denial, blunting, and these behavioral responses to distress may adversely impact quality of life.
• Regression involves regressing to behavior indicative of an earlier stage of development when faced with difficult situations that we cannot resolve—for example, acting helpless when sick in the hope that someone will act as a caregiver.
• Denial refers to simply refusing to believe an unpleasant reality. For example, when diagnosed with a terminal illness, a person may deny it and refuse to follow treatment recommendations. A 2005 article in the Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research identified that the presence of denial is negatively correlated with mental health treatment initiation and retention.
• Projection involves attributing our negative impulses to another person. Projection is one of the most common defensive strategies and affects how people understand one another. Projection can range from a parent projecting unfulfilled ambitions onto their child to projecting anger on a family member after a bad day at work.
• Reaction Formation is the suppression of unacceptable impulses and adopting an opposite course of action. When engaging in reaction formation, the person will express the opposite of their true feelings, sometimes exaggeratedly. Researchers identify that reaction formation is presented as the most stable among the defense mechanisms, pervading the entire personality structure.
• Identification is the internalization or reproduction of behaviors observed in others, such as children adopting their parents’ behavior without conscious realization of this process. The superego develops through identification with others and the adoption of rules and guidelines of our culture.
• Displacement is the transfer of impulses onto another object when we cannot respond directly to the stressor. Although displacement can serve as a means of coping for a person, it can also lead to negative consequences that may affect a person’s life and relationships.
• Rationalization is the process of justifying unacceptable behaviors or thoughts with logical reasons. Rationalization can increase risks for people struggling with mental health symptoms. 2011 research in the Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience journal identified that rationalization can increase cognitive dissonance in decision-making.
• Isolation of Affect involves separating the anxiety-provoking aspects of an event from one’s other thoughts and behaviors. This defense mechanism results from an individual blocking out painful feelings by recalling a traumatic event without experiencing the associated emotion. Isolation of affect is essentially an unconscious process and is defined as an immature defense mechanism.
• Sublimation is channeling unacceptable impulses into a more socially acceptable form. This defense mechanism is seen as a mature and healthy means of responding to negative emotions or stressors. Freud believed that a minority could regularly employ this means of responding to trauma or stress.
When patients rely too heavily on defense mechanisms, they are essentially avoiding or denying our true feelings and emotions. This can lead to several negative consequences, such as stunted personal growth, strained relationships, and mental health crises. For example, using the defense mechanism of projection, where we project our undesirable traits onto others, can cause us to constantly blame and criticize those around us instead of taking responsibility for our actions. Over time, this can damage our relationships and prevent us from forming authentic connections with others.
Psychologists are tasked with helping patients gain insight into adaptive behaviors to help them cope with negative emotions. However, while defense mechanisms can be effective in the short term, they can also become maladaptive and lead to long-term psychological issues. Understanding these mechanisms and how they operate can help individuals recognize and address their coping strategies, leading to greater emotional awareness and well-being.