Have you ever thought, why do we behave in a certain way when we are stressed?

 

How does our body react to the emotional and physical tension ?

 

Our minds have certain mechanisms  to cope with stress and anxiety,which work on our unconscious level and tend to deny or distort reality .

 

Defense mechanisms are one way the mind unconsciously attempts to reduce anxiety and restore emotional balance.

Let’s explore 10 major defense mechanisms

(1) Repression 

Malti is a 21year female adult, but when she gets married,she is unable to form intimate relationships with her husband. And she doesn't know why she gets anxious about it.

On counseling, it was diagnosed that in childhood she has suffered child abuse, which is unconsciously prohibiting her, by influencing her behaviour toward intimate relationship.

Correct, you are right

Repression is a defense mechanism in which the brain represses the unwanted idea,effect or desire from consciousness by pushing it into the unconscious part of the mind.

(2) Reaction Formation - 

Reaction Formation is a defense mechanism in which an individual hides his/her feelings by a performative or exaggerated set of behaviors.

Let’s understand with the help of an example

In a romantic movie, we often encounter situations where an actor bullies an actress and later on they start dating each other.

Here, the actor already has romantic feelings for the actress, but he hides this feeling, maybe with the fear of rejection.

Let’s understand reaction formation with another example.

This example is a funny one

A drug addict, though himself taking drugs, advises others to not indulge in substance abuse.

Again,reaction formation is done by the drug addict to hide his/her feelings for drugs, and mentioning just the opposite whatever he/she is doing.

(3) Projection -

This defense mechanism is an interesting one. 

We all have some neighbors we don’t like. We were reluctant to talk to them. 

Yes! I know your answer is “Yes! I don’t talk and avoid them because I know they don’t like me.”

This is called Projection Defense Mechanism.

Projection is the defense mechanism of our unconscious mind , in which we try to put our feelings for anyone onto another.

In the above scenario, you are not liking your neighbor, and you interpreted it as even if they don’t like you. Which may not be true ?

 

(4) Regression -

Mr. Batra is going through a stressful divorce situation, soon he realizes he has started wetting his bed which he used to do in his childhood.

 

It’s awkward isn’t it ?

 

This type of defense mechanism is known as Regression.

 

Regression is a defense mechanism which  causes the temporary or long-term ego to revert to an earlier developmental stage where individuals utilize unacceptable impulses as coping mechanisms. 

 

This can happen to both children and adults.

 

“Regression involves taking the position of a child in some problematic situation, rather than acting in a more adult way. This is usually in response to stressful situations, with greater levels of stress potentially leading to more overt regressive acts.(ChangingMinds)”

(5) Sublimation -

This is an interesting defense mechanism again to redirect your feelings to something more productive.

We all know that Extreme Anger is an enemy of our mental and physical health.

People could take destructive action in anger. But, there are people who turn their negative feelings into constructive and socially acceptable activities.

Sublimation is a defense mechanism in which an individual redirects his/her anxious and stressful feelings into constructive and socially acceptable activities rather than destructive activities.

(6) Denial -

Denial defense mechanism occurs when you refuse to accept reality or facts. 

It is a way of avoiding painful feelings or events.

In denial defense mechanisms people may block external events and circumstances from the mind so that they don’t have to deal with the emotional impact occurring due to it.

(7) Rationalization -

Rationalization as the name suggests attempts to explain or justify any behavior by giving logical reasons, even the reasons are not appropriate.

(8) Displacement -

We often heard of domestic violence cases in which a man on arriving at his house beats his children and wife for no specific reason.

We call it frustration.

But, on analyzing the situation, it is found that after working hard at the office and not getting the required output, got scolded by his boss. He comes home and to cope up with his anxiety and emotional disturbances, he redirects his feelings to his wife and children.

This phenomenon is known as displacement.

Displacement is the defense mechanism of the unconscious mind in which an individual redirects his/her feelings on others.

(9) Intellectualisation -

Intellectualisation is a defense mechanism of the unconscious mind of protecting oneself from the emotional stress and anxiety associated with confronting painful personal fears or problems by excessive reasoning.

(10) Compartmentalization -

This is the most healthy defense mechanism of our unconscious mind.

Suppose you are a working professional whose  working hours  in a job is from 9:00 am to 5 pm. After 5 pm you have made up your mind that you will not take any work-related issue. This way you are disallowing any further anxiety of work after 5.00 pm, considering it as your personal time.

Here, you divided your time, hence compartilized it.

This allows you to carry on without facing the anxieties or challenges while you’re in that setting or mindset.

Compartmentalization is a defense mechanism of the unconscious mind in which an individual separates his/her contradicting thoughts,emotions and experiences.

References :-

Javanbakht A. A theory of everything: Overlapping neurobiological mechanisms of psychotherapies of fear and anxiety related disorders. Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:328. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00328

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