Ego Defense Mechanisms

Front 1

Name defense mechansim exemplified:

A physically handicapped boy is unable to participate in football, so he compensates by becoming a great scholar

Back 1

Compensation - Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable

Front 2

Name defense mechansim exemplified: A woman drinks excess alcohol every day and can't stop, failing to acknowledge that she has a prob.

Back 2

Denial - Refusing to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings assoc. w/it

Front 3

Name defense mechansim exemplified: A client is angry at his Dr., doesn't express it, bu becomes verbally abusive with the nurse.

Back 3

Displacement - The transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or that is neutral

Front 4

Name defense mechansim exemplified: A teenage boy who required lengthy rehab after an accident decides to become a physical therapist a a result of his expierences

Back 4

Identification - An attempt to increase self-worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one admires

Front 5

Name defense mechansim exemplified: Susan's husband is being transferred with his job to a city far away from her parents. She hides anxiety by explaining to her parents the advantages assoc. with the move.

Back 5

Intellectualization - An attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions assoc. with a stressful situ by using the intellectual processes of logic, reasoning, and analysis

Front 6

Name defense mechansim exemplified: Children integrate their parents’ value system into the process of conscience formation. A child says to friend, “don’t cheat. It’s wrong.”

Back 6

Introjection – Integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s own ego structure

Front 7

Name defense mechansim exemplified:Without showing any emotion, a young woman describes being attacked and raped.

Back 7

Isolation – separating a thought or memory from the feeling tone or emotion assoc. with it

Front 8

Name defense mechansim exemplified:Sue feels a strong sexual attraction to her track coach and tells her friend, “he’s coming on to me”

Back 8

Projection – Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person

Front 9

Name defense mechansim exemplified:John tells rehab nurse, “I drink b/c it’s the only way I can deal w/my bad marriage and my worse job.”

Back 9

Rationalization – Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors

Front 10

Name defense mechansim exemplified:Jane hates nursing. She attended nursing school to please her parents. During career day, she speaks to prospective students about the excellence of nursing as a career.

Back 10

Reaction formation – Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors