Defence Mechanisms

• Defence Mechanisms

  The ego balances the demands of the Id and the Super Ego using defence mechanisms

  They are unconscious and ensure that the Ego can prevent us from being overwhelmed by temporary threats or traumas

  BUT

  They involve some form of distortion of reality and as a long term solution are not psychologically healthy
• Defence Mechanism - Repression

  Repression is forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind
• Defence Mechanism - Denial

  Denial is refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality
• Defence Mechanism - Displacement

  Displacement is transferring feelings from the true source of the distressing emotion onto a substitute target
• Defence Mechanism - Regression

  Regression is returning to an earlier stage of life to avoid a distressing emotion
• Defence Mechanism - Sublimation

  Sublimation is transferring unacceptable sexual or physical feelings into more socially acceptable behaviours