Our bodies work in amazing ways to protect us.
We have a lot of reflexes that do a great job of keeping us alive from the day we are born. In a similar way, our psychological state is also protected by defense mechanisms.
In 2015, Waqas and colleagues wrote an academic paper where they defined defense mechanisms as ‘unconscious psychological processes that help an individual prevent anxiety when exposed to a stressful situation.’
Defense mechanisms were first brought to light by Sigmund Freud, one of the founding fathers of psychology. He explained that defense mechanisms protect the conscious mind from contradictions between the id and the superego.
Consequently, defense mechanisms can hinder us from dealing with conflicts that require our attention.
Depending on the circumstances, our brain will use any of the various known defense mechanisms. The common ones are:
I explained these common defense mechanisms in a previous post, so this article will cover some of the less common ones. I will also give some examples to help you better understand them.
Repression refers to the unconscious exclusion of distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings from the conscious mind.
It protects us from thinking of and re-living traumatic experiences we’ve had in the past. Intrusive thoughts and memories can trigger PTSD, which has the potential to influence our lives negatively.
Repression keeps us safe from some negative effects of trauma, but it does not help us deal with the trauma we experienced.
An example would be someone subconsciously failing to recall experiences of abuse that happened when they were younger. Not remembering this experience does not mean they have received the help they need to deal with the trauma.
This is where individuals attribute their own undesirable traits, feelings, motives, or emotions to others.
By attributing their own unwanted characteristics to someone else, individuals can avoid dealing directly with those aspects of themselves that are causing distress or discomfort.
This is commonly visible in relationships where one accuses their partner of cheating, when they are in fact the ones that are cheating.
Another example would be a person who has unresolved feelings of jealousy towards a friend, but is unwilling to acknowledge or accept this emotion. Instead of recognizing their own jealousy and dealing with it, they might project these feelings onto their friend, believing that the friend is envious of them.
In this way, the person avoids confronting their own uncomfortable emotions by attributing them to someone else.
Regression involves reverting to earlier stages of development in the face of stress.
For example, if an individual faces a challenging situation or feels overwhelmed, they might exhibit behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage.
This could involve:
This is when we substitute unacceptable immediate instincts with more acceptable ones.
Instead of expressing desires directly and potentially harmfully, individuals redirect them into more positive and socially appropriate outlets.
For instance, when you have a misunderstanding with your partner, you decide to go for a walk, despite the existence of an immediate impulse to fight.
Another example would be when a person has aggressive tendencies; instead of acting out violently, they might channel that energy into a competitive sport, where the aggression can be expressed in a controlled and socially acceptable manner.
In this way, sublimation allows for the transformation of negative emotions or desires into productive and socially beneficial actions.
This involves expressing the opposite of what one truly feels or desires when faced with anxiety-provoking or socially unacceptable thoughts or emotions. In other words, individuals may behave in a manner that is contrary to their true feelings or beliefs, often to manage internal conflicts and reduce discomfort.
A good example would be when something sad happens and rather than being sad, you act happy.
Another example would be an individual who harbors strong feelings of anger or hostility towards a person but is simultaneously aware that expressing these feelings would be socially unacceptable or might lead to negative consequences.
In reaction formation, this person may display exaggerated friendliness and warmth toward the individual they harbor negative feelings for. The outward display of friendliness masks the underlying hostility.
Compartmentalization is a defense mechanism in which a person separates conflicting thoughts, feelings, or aspects of their life and keeps them in distinct mental "compartments."
This separation allows individuals to manage internal conflicts and reduce cognitive dissonance by keeping contradictory beliefs or emotions from coming into direct contact with each other.
Here's an example to illustrate compartmentalization:
Imagine a person who is going through a difficult time at work but doesn't want the stress to affect their personal life. In response, they might consciously or unconsciously compartmentalize these aspects of their life. They keep work-related stress in one mental compartment and maintain a positive and relaxed demeanor in their personal relationships.
By doing so, they create a psychological barrier between the conflicting emotions and experiences.
While compartmentalization can be an adaptive strategy in some situations, it may also lead to difficulties in processing emotions or addressing underlying issues if used excessively or inappropriately.
Psychological defense mechanisms operate at a subconscious level and help protect us from experiencing intense emotions or thoughts that may be overwhelming.
It's important to note that defense mechanisms are not inherently good or bad.
They can be adaptive in certain situations, but may also lead to maladaptive behaviors if overused. This is why it is important for us to reflect and try to understand what could be happening in our subconscious mind.
This will help us get a better understanding of our behaviors and the decisions we make. This comprehension will allow us to deal with issues that we might have to in order for us to experience healing and adequately experience emotions and feelings.
LATEST
July 27, 2025
July 25, 2025
CATEGORIES
Wake up to dailymotivation!
Get Motivational Quotes, Affirmations, and insightful content delivered to your inbox every morning!
Session expired
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.
