defence mechanisms

Last reviewed 01/2018

A series of subconscious mental processes - the individual is unaware that he is employing them, but may become aware of such motives through self-analysis or by having them pointed out to him. Mechanisms include:

• Repression exclusion from awareness of memories,emotions that would cause distress/anxiety if allowed to enter consciousness.

• Denial the patient behaves as though unaware of something that he might reasonably be expected to know.

• Regression the unconscious adoption of patterns of behaviour appropriate to an earlier stage of development.

• Projection the unconscious attribution to another person of one's own thoughts or feelings.

• Reaction the unconscious adoption of behaviour formation opposite to that which reflect the persons true feelings and intentions.

• Displace- involves the transferring of emotion from a -ment situation or object with which it is properly associated to another that gives less distress.

• Rationalisation

• Sublimation unconscious diversion of unacceptable outlets into acceptable outlets.