Ego Defense Mechanism
Definition | Example | |
Compensation | Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable | Individuals with poor family lives may direct their energy into excelling above and beyond what is required at work. |
Denial | Refusing to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it | An alcoholic can’t stop drinking and doesn’t acknowledge that they have a problem |
Displacement | The transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or that is neutral | An employee who is angry with their boss but expresses their emotions to their partner |
Identification | An attempt to increase self-worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one admires | A girl dresses like her friends, as much because she desires to be like them |
Intellectualization | An attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logic, reasoning, and analysis | Jane’s partner job transfers him to another city and they hide the anxiety from their kids explaining the benefits associated with the move. |
Introjection | Integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s ego structure | “boys don’t cry” |
Isolation | Separating a thought or memory from the feeling, tone, or emotion associated with it | A person with a particularly stressful job may use isolation to separate their work life from their family life, avoiding the stress affecting their relationships. |
Projection | Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person | A boy who has a secret attraction to a girl he likes, tells his friends that, “she is in love with me” |
Rationalization | Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors | I drink because it’s the only way I can deal with my bad job. |
Reaction formation | Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors | An individual attends medical school although they don’t want to be a doctor to please their parents |
Regression | Responding to stress by retreating to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning | A ten-year-old is in the hospital to get his tonsils removed and begins sucking his thumb like he did when he was a toddler |
Repression | Involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness | An adult who was sexually abused as a child tries to block the memory of the experience. |
Sublimation | Rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into constructive activities | After years of alcohol addiction, John joins an alcohol anonymous group and helps spread awareness of alcohol addiction. |
Suppression | The voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness | “I don’t have money for the bills, but I will deal with tomorrow” |
Undoing | Symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that one finds intolerable | Mary yells at her colleagues at school about a late turned-in assignment but buys coffee for them |