Question

Defense Mechanisms and Coping with Stress

Discuss the following with the class:

Which defense mechanism do you tend to use? Does the information in Ch. 11 of Essentials of Psychology provide you some insight into why you use this Mechanism?

What are some stress-management strategies or techniques you find helpful? What do you do when these strategies do not work?

Answer 1

Defense mechanism consists of different types such as denying, displacement, projection, repression, rationalization, sublimation, reaction formation etc., Sigmund Freud was the first person who proposed this defence mechanism. Basically the defence mechanisms are used to reduce the stress which an individual undergo. In everyday life everyone consciously or unconsciously uses different types of these mechanism, the person can use 2 or more mechanisms at a time.

I usually use all types of defence mechanism but mostly i think denial, projection and displacement methods were more useful for me because when i deny a situation i could feel at ease since it creates a sense that the stressful situation have nothing to do with me, similarly whenever i use projection method i could feel some sense of security and I love displacement method because it was the more often than any other method, the victim for my anger displacement is my little brother because he won't talk back to me when i shout at him but i feel sorry for him after i do this.

The best stress-mangement stratergy that i so for used is "Relaxation technique and Mindfulness". Both for them done a great job in reducing my stress level. When you do relaxation or especially mindfulness everyday for few minutes the results they give you will blow you away becuase it help to learn more about yourself, to calm down when our we get stressful, bodily changes can be observed and particularly you get to know your body and mind. Most of the time both these techniques will work for me. But if they don't regular use of this method for long hour can give better results.