Question

Sigmund Freud was the first to theorize about ego defense mechanisms. Many defense mechanisms are self-deceptive strategies utilized to ward off anxiety that is deemed too threatening to confront. Below is a list of some defense mechanisms.

- denial

- rationalization

- reaction formation

- displacement

- regression

- projection

- repression

- suppression

- rationalization

- compensation

- conversion

- avoidance

- acting out

- acceptance

- dissociation

- fantasy

- humility

- humor

- passive aggression

- idealisation

- identification

Select one from the list above, or, the list on the link below. Define and exemplify it. Is it conscious, or, unconscious? Explain why it is an effective, or, ineffective way of dealing with anxiety. Is its effective value different for long-term vs. short-term coping?

Answer 1

Sigmund Freud in his psychoanalytic theory to understand the basis of personality, introduced the concept of 'interpretation of dreams' to acknowledge the underlying thoughts that drives one's behaviour.

Projection, is when an individual has uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, and project them onto another person. For instance, the client may not like the analyst, however, instead of saying it upright, the client accuses the analyst of not liking him and being indifferent towards him.

Sigmund Freud in his theory of psychoanalysis proposed the topographical model of the mind. Freud suggested that the human mind functions at three levels of awareness; the conscious mind, subconscious mind and the unconscious mind. Every individual goes through stressful situations in life. However, Freud suggested that every individual exercises different defense mechanisms which suit them the best to cope up with those stressful events. One of the defense mechanisms executed by most people is repression. Repression includes repressing or pushing down the feelings and thoughts that you make feel miserable. The repressed thoughts, feelings and memories are said to be embedded in the unconscious. Those thoughts or traumatic experiences are not forgotten whereas they are repressed in unconscious. The material repressed in the unconscious is the major cause behind individuals developing anxiety disorders. The reason to their anxiety is unknown to them. The material from the unconscious mind cannot be recollected or remembered. It does not surface to the conscious mind on it's own. Various techniques and ways are used to reveal the material from the unconscious mind. It includes, psychotherapy, dream analysis, free association, hypnosis and projective techniques. All of these techniques help reveal the thoughts and feelings that perhaps even an individual himself would be unaware of holding within. The effective value is definitely different for long-term vs. short-term coping. In the long run, repression could lead to psychosomatic disorder like hyperventilation anxiety syndrome and mental disorders like bipolar and depression. It works for short-term, however, an individual must come in terms with reality instead of pushing thoughts and feelings to their unconscious to replicate forgetting.