Ten Types of Defense Mechanisms

These are −

Repression and Suppression − If a person has a memory of abuse in childhood, repression may appear as a defense mechanism. Repression works to keep some memories away from the mind consciously. However, these memories are not erased and leave a mark on our reactions. Contrarily, sometimes we force some information away from our conscious mind. However, it may continuously present in the unconscious mind and provoke anxiety. Such kinds of defense mechanisms are classified as Suppression.

Displacemen − In this defense mechanism, a person pours out all the frustrations and anxieties on other objects or persons who are less threatening. In some cases, anxiety or impulses cannot be shown in the proper situation. In such conditions, displacement works to drain out the frustrations through a safer gateway. For example, a person cannot argue with his boss and shows anger later, perhaps on family members or friends.

Subpmation − If the person cannot drain his anger on other objects, defense mechanisms convert it into more acceptable forms. Freud considers it a mature behavior that is not an escape but accepted socially. For example, a person can drive out his anger through kickboxing.

Denial − Denial is one of the most common and well−known defense mechanisms. In this case, the person does not want to face unwanted situations and avoids them by denying or refusing. However, denial cannot permanently protect the ego from coping with the situation and only saves it from sudden anxiety or problems. Furthermore, requires a large amount of energy investment. Denial can also happen if the person decreases the importance of any situation but not denying it directly. Addiction is a well-known example of denial.

Intellectuapzation − Intellectuapzation is another well−accepted defense mechanism. In this case, the person analyses it intellectually despite getting anxious about a sudden situation. Thinking critically helps reduce panic, and stressful innocence cannot dominate the mind anymore.

Regression − According to Anna Freud, in the regression stage, people stop repeating fixed techniques and try to revert the patterns to epminate anxiety. According to her, in this stage, people act out of the stage of psychosexual development where their actions are fixed. Their behavior in regression depends on the stage in which they are fixed.

Projection − Projection as a defense mechanism works to invert certain feepngs on others. It suppresses unwanted desires or impulses but does it cleverly so that ego cannot identify them. For instance, if a person has a feepng of dispke for another, he may project that the other person does not pke him. In this way, it avoids reapty and reduces anxiety.

Reaction Formation − Reaction Formation projects the opposite feepng instead of what the person feels about a particular situation. Freud says that it is an erasing reapty to avoid unpleasant behavior. For example, if a person does not pke somebody, he may appear extremely friendly.

Rationapzation − Rationapzation is subverting a negative behavior by explaining logically and rationally. A reflection of self−esteem can also be found in this type of defense mechanism.

Miscellaneous Defense Mechanisms − There are some other types of defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety. They can be classified as affipation, avoidance, passive aggression, fantasy, compensation, undoing, etc.