Defense Mechanisms
1. Denial
Refusing to accept something because it’s too hard to face.
Example: A smoker refuses to admit that smoking is bad for their health.
2. Repression
Pushing away painful thoughts so you don’t think about them.
Example: A person forgets about a traumatic event from childhood because it was too painful.
3. Projection
Blaming others for your own feelings or thoughts.
Example: Someone who is angry might accuse others of being angry instead.
4. Displacement
Taking your feelings out on someone or something else.
Example: After a bad day at work, a man yells at his kids instead of addressing his boss.
5. Regression
Acting like a child to deal with stress.
Example: A grown adult starts throwing tantrums when things don’t go their way.
6. Rationalization
Making excuses for bad behavior.
Example: A student fails a test and says, "It wasn’t important anyway."
7. Sublimation
Turning bad feelings into something positive.
Example: A person with anger issues starts doing martial arts to release frustration.
8. Reaction Formation
Acting the opposite of how you really feel.
Example: Someone who dislikes their coworker might act overly friendly toward them.
9. Identification
Copying someone else to feel better about yourself.
Example: A child dresses like their favorite superhero to feel strong.
10. Intellectualization
Focusing on facts instead of feelings to avoid emotions.
Example: After a breakup, someone spends all their time reading about relationships instead of dealing with their sadness.
11. Compensation
Making up for a weakness by being good at something else.
Example: A person who isn’t good at schoolwork becomes really good at sports.
12. Undoing
Trying to make up for something bad you did.
Example: After lying to a friend, someone buys them a gift to make up for it.
13. Fantasy
Escaping reality by imagining something else.
Example: A person daydreams about being rich when they’re unhappy with their life.
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