PP21: Freudian Defence Mechanisms

Harvard Reference: Gross.R. (1996) Psychology. The science of mind and behaviour. 3rd Ed, London: Hodder and Stoughton

Name of Defence

/ Description / Example
1. Repression / Forcing a dangerous or threatening memory or idea or feeling out of consciousness and making it unconscious. Often used in conjunction with one or more other defences, one of the earliest used by the child. / A 5-6 year old child repressing its incestuous desire for the opposite sex parent as part of its attempt to resolve the Oedipus complex.
2. Displacement / Using a substitute object for the expression of your feelings because you cannot express them openly towards their real target. You transfer your feelings onto something quite harmless or innocent that will not retaliate (‘kicking the cat’) / Anger with your boy/girlfriend is taken out on your parents or brother/sister. Frustration caused by lack of power and influence at work is expressed as violence towards spouse and children. Prejudices/discrimination. Phobias.
3. Denial / Refusing to acknowledge certain aspects of reality; refusing to perceive something because it is painful, distressing or threatening. / Refusing to accept that you have a serious illness or that a relationship is on the rocks – or that you have an exam tomorrow. Common component of grieving.
4. Rationalization / Finding an acceptable excuse for something which is really quite unacceptable: a ‘cover story’ which preserves your self image or that of someone close to you. Justifying your own or others action to yourself and believing it. / Being cruel to be kind.
‘I only did it for you’.
‘It was in your best interests’.
‘I did so badly because I didn’t revise properly.’
Feature of cognitive dissonance theory.
5. Reaction Formation / Consciously feeling or thinking the very opposite to what you truly (unconsciously) feel or think; the conscious feelings or thoughts are experienced as quite genuine. / Being considerate or polite to someone you strongly dislike, even going out of your way to be nice to them. This ‘display’ may be ‘overdone’ but this will only be obvious to an observer, not the actor. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, eg compulsive hand-washing.

Name of Defence

/ Description / Example
6. Sublimation / A form of displacement in which a substitute activity is found to express an unacceptable impulse. The activity is usually socially acceptable, if not desirable. One of the most positive or constructive of all defences. / Playing sport to re-direct aggressive impulses. Doing sculpture/pottery/gardening etc to satisfy unconscious desire to play with faces. All artistic and cultural activities.
7. Identification / The incorporation or introjection of an external object (usually another person) into one’s own personality making them a part of oneself. Coming to think and act and feel as if one were that person. / Involves imitation and modelling. A young boy’s identification with his father in order to avoid castration (Oedipus complex).
8. Projection / Displacing your own unwanted feelings and characteristics onto someone else; often involves a reversal of the subject/object of the feelings. / Suspecting or accusing someone of dishonourable motives based on your own (unconscious) dishonourable motives/intentions. ‘I hate you’ becomes ‘You hate me’. This is the basis of paranoia.
9. Regression / Engaging in behaviour characteristics of an earlier stage of development. We normally regress to the point of fixation. / Taking to your bed when upset, crying, losing your temper, eating when depressed.
10. Isolation / Separating contradictory thoughts or feelings into ‘logical’ compartments, so that no conflict is experienced. Separating thoughts and emotions that usually go together. A form of dissociation. / Calmly and clinically talking about a very traumatic experience without showing any emotion. Or even giggling about it.

These Freudian defence mechanisms are explanations for how people might deal with stressful or traumatic situations.

The descriptions of the defence mechanisms are quite confusing – please read each one and put it into your own words. Remember that Freudian defence mechanisms are subconscious meaning that person will not realise what they are doing to deal with the stressful event. As a health psychologist or health and social care professional you will be able to observe their behaviour and hopefully understand why they are acting in the way that they are.