Psychological defense mechanisms are an important part of the psychoanalytic theory established by Sigmund Freud and further developed by his daughter, Anna Freud. These mechanisms are unconscious strategies that our minds use to protect ourselves from anxiety and to manage internal conflicts and external stressors. They help us cope with emotional pain and unpleasant feelings by preventing them from entering our conscious mind.
Defense Mechanisms Test
Tests for defense mechanisms have been developed by different researchers at different times to study and assess individuals' use of these mechanisms. The Defensive Mechanisms Test (DSQ, Defensive Style Questionnaire) developed in the 1990s is a well-known one. The purpose of these tests is to identify the preferred defense mechanisms that an individual uses to cope with emotional discomfort and stress. The benefit of such tests is the ability to understand an individual's tendencies toward certain emotional reactions, which can be used in psychotherapeutic practice to develop more effective problem-solving strategies.
Examples of defense mechanisms
Displacement
The unconscious exclusion of painful thoughts, memories, and feelings from consciousness. After experiencing a car accident, a person may completely "forget" about the accident or their feelings during it.
Denial
Refusal to acknowledge the reality of unpleasant or threatening information. A smoker may ignore medical evidence of the harms of smoking, claiming that it does not apply to his or her case.
Projection
Transferring one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings onto other people. A person who experiences intense jealousy may blame their partner for their own constant jealousy.
Rationalization
Justifying one's behavior with logical, but not always truthful, reasons. A student who did poorly on an exam may say that the exam was unfairly difficult rather than admitting their lack of preparation.
Regression
A return to behaviors typical of an earlier stage of development. An adult facing a lot of stress at work may begin biting his or her nails or crying hysterically, which are more typical childhood behaviors.
Compensation
Attempts to cover up real or imagined shortcomings by developing other qualities. A person who feels incompetent in social situations may become very successful professionally to compensate for their social deficiencies.
Sublimation
The transformation of unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions. A person with aggressive tendencies may channel their energy into sports or become a surgeon.
Reactive Shaping
Adopting and expressing opposite feelings or behaviors to the original desires. A person who feels a strong antipathy toward someone deep inside may show excessive benevolence and consideration for that person.
Isolation
An emotional disconnection from a traumatic event or thought. A person may talk about a tragic event in their life without any apparent emotion, as if it happened to someone else.
Postponement
Postponing an emotional response to an unpleasant event. A student may not feel the stress of upcoming exams until the last moment when deadlines are coming.
These defense mechanisms work on an unconscious level and can play both positive and negative roles in a person's life. In some cases they help one cope with their difficulties, in other cases they can hinder the development of healthy relationships and effective problem solving. Understanding and recognizing your own defense mechanisms can be the first step to personal growth and psychological well-being.
