Question

match the defense mechanism with the appropriate statement: Denial ,Projection Compensation,Reaction formation, Sublimation:

I was so angry that I baked 100 cookies in 30 minutes.”

I’m always nicest to the people that I loathe.”

“I was so stressed out that I suddenly starting sucking my thumb and acting like a baby.”

Answer 1

1) "I WAS SO ANGRY THAT I BAKED 100 COOKIES IN 30 MINUTES." - SUBLIMATION

2) " I AM ALWAYS NICEST TO THE PEOPLE THAT I LOATHE." - REACTION FORMATION

3) " I WAS SO STRESSED OUT THAT I SUDDENLY STARTING SUCKING MY THUMB

AND ACTING LIKE A BABY." - REGRESSION / DENIAL (SINCE REGRESSION IS NOT PROVIDED AS AN OPTION HERE WE MAY REPLACE IT WITH 'DENIAL' HERE)

THE FIRST STATEMENT IS AN EXAMPLE FOR SUBLIMATION. IN THE FREUDIAN VIEW, SUBLIMATION IS PERHAPS THE HEALTHIEST OF ALL DEFENSE MECHANISMS. IN SUBLIMATION WE MANAGE TO DISPLACE OUR UNACCEPTABLE EMOTIONS INTO BEHAVIOURS WHICH ARE CONSTRUCTIVE AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE, RATHER THAN DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES.

THE SECOND STATEMENT IS AN EXAMPLE FOR REACTION FORMATION, IN WHICH A PERSON GOES BEYOND DENIAL AND BEHAVES IN THE OPPOSITE WAY TO WHICH HE OR SHE THINKS OR FEELS. CONSCIOUS BEHAVIOURS ARE ADOPTED TO OVERCOMENSATE FOR THE ANXIETY A PERSON FEELS REGARDING THEIR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE UNCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS OR EMOTIONS. BY, USING THE REACTION FORMATION, THE 'ID' IS SATISFIED WHILE KEEPING THE 'EGO' IN IGNORANCE OF THE TRUE MOTIVES.

THE THIRD STATEMENT IS AN EXAMPLE FOR REGRESSION. THE FREUDIAN VIEW OF REGRESSION IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED, YOU REVERT TO AN EARLIER PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGE WHEN YOU FELT HAPPIER AND MORE SECURE. SINCE REGRESSION IS NOT PROVIDED HERE AS AN OPTION WE MAY REPLACE IT WITH THE GIVEN OPTION HERE AND THAT IS 'DENIAL' WHICH IS SOME WHAT SIMILAR TO REGRESSION. CLASSIC DENIAL MEANS THAT YOU DENY HAVING NEGATIVE OR HARMFUL IMPULSES: IF YOU DIDN'T, YOU'D BE OVERWHELMED WITH ANXIETY. IT IS AWARENESS OF EXPERIENCES OR EVENTS THAT WOULD CHALLENGE YOUR FAVOURABLE VIEW OF YOURSELF OR THE WORLD. BEING PROTECTED FROM REALITY MIGHT ALLOW YOU TO FEEL BETTER.