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In psychoanalysis, Defense Mechanisms are any of a variety of unconscious personality reactions, which the ego uses to protect the conscious mind from threatening feelings and perceptions. Sigmund Freud first used defense as a psychoanalytic term (1894), but he did not break the notion into categories, viewing it as a singular phenomenon of repression. His daughter, Anna Freud, expanded on his theories in the 1930s, distinguishing some of the major defense mechanisms recognized today. Primary defense mechanisms include repression and denial, which serve to prevent unacceptable ideas or impulses from entering the conscience. Secondary defense mechanisms—generally appearing as an outgrowth of the primary defense mechanisms—include projection, reaction formation, displacement, sublimation, and isolation. ...
The defense mechanisms
Freuds daughter, Anna, who did psychoanalysis until she died in 1982, summarized several ego defenses in The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense (1936). ... Almost all adjustment books mention these defense mechanisms, even the writers who are arrogantly critical of Freud. ...
There are many other defense mechanisms ("acting out" as a way of rebelling and reducing tension, "self-repudiation" to get others off your back, seeking sympathy, etc. ...
As Sigmund Freud described ego defense mechanisms, the processes were primarily unconscious. As Anna Freud and later psychoanalysts studied these processes more intensely and re-defined them, the mechanisms came to be seen as more conscious and available to the ego (the conscious self) for dealing with anxiety. ...
It is likely that each of us can sometimes recognize when we use defense mechanisms. We cant detect every time, but by being very familiar with the common defense mechanisms and by being vigilant, we can investigate our possible use of defense mechanisms and keep ourselves honest.
Approximate Word count = 2485
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