Psychology

Front 1

Repression

Back 1

a dangerous impulse is actively and totally excluded from consciousness


ex. an aging father fails to recognize his own feelings of hostility toward his strong, athletic son

Front 2

Projection

Back 2

attributing one's own unacceptable and disturbing thoughts and impulses to someone else



ex. a man preoccupied with doubts about his own heterosexuality frequently accuses others of being homosexual

Front 3

Reaction Formation

Back 3

Warding off an unacceptable impulse by overemphasizing its opposite in thought and behavior



ex. a man threatened by his desire to dominate others and to be aggressive thinks of himself as a passive and retiring sort of person and acts accordingly

Front 4

Rationalization

Back 4

Devising an extremely reasonable explanation or excuse for an event or behavior that threatens the person' esteem



ex. a wife explains her husband's repeated infidelity as a product of his unfortunate upbringing or an overly seductive environment

Front 5

Regression

Back 5

retreat to an earlier and more primitive stage or mode of behavior in order to avoid pain, threat, or anxiety



ex. a mother lapses into diversionary "baby talk" with her daughter whenever she confronts a tough decision or threatening situation

Front 6

Displacement

Back 6

shifting an impulse from a threatening to a nonthreatening object



ex. angry at his boss because of a demotion, the businessman goes home and argues with his wife

Front 7

Sublimation

Back 7

Channeling socially unacceptable impulses into acceptable even admirable, behavior


ex. the surgeon channels aggressive energy into constructive medical work; the artist employs the libido to produce a masterpiece.