...15 Common Defense Mechanisms In some areas of psychology (especially in psychodynamic theory), psychologists talk about “defense mechanisms,” or manners in which we behave or think in certain ways to better protect or “defend” ourselves. Defense mechanisms are one way of looking at how people distance themselves from a full awareness of unpleasant thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Psychologists have categorized defense mechanisms based upon how primitive they are. The more primitive a defense mechanism, the less effective it works for a person over the long-term. However, more primitive defense mechanisms are usually very effective short-term, and hence are favored by many people and children especially (when such primitive defense mechanisms are first learned). Adults who don’t learn better ways of coping with stress or traumatic events in their lives will often resort to such primitive defense mechanisms as well. Most defense mechanisms are fairly unconscious – that means most of us don’t realize we’re using them in the moment. Some types ofpsychotherapy can help a person become aware of what defense mechanisms they are using, how effective they are, and how to use less primitive and more effective mechanisms in the future. Primitive Defense Mechanisms 1. Denial Denial is the refusal to accept reality or fact, acting as if a painful event, thought or feeling did not exist. It is considered one of the most primitive of the defense mechanisms because it is characteristic...
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...its full form, it is totally subconscious, and sufferers may be as mystified by the behavior of people around them as those people are by the behavior of the sufferers. It may also have a significant conscious element, where the sufferer is simply 'turning a blind eye' to an uncomfortable situation. Denial is a form of repression, where stressful thoughts are banned from memory. If I do not think about it, then I do not suffer the associated stress have to deal with it. However, people engaging in Denial can pay a high cost in terms of the psychic energy needed to maintain the denial state. Repression and Denial are two primary defense mechanisms which everybody uses. Children find denial easier, as with age, the ego matures and understands more about the "objective reality" it must operate within. Denial is one of Anna Freud's original defense mechanisms. Repression involves placing uncomfortable thoughts in relatively inaccessible areas of the subconscious mind. Thus when things occur that we are unable to cope with now, we push them away, either planning to deal with them at another time or hoping that they will fade away on their own accord. The level of 'forgetting' in repression can vary from a temporary abolition of uncomfortable thoughts to a high level of amnesia, where events that caused the anxiety are buried very deep.Repressed memories do not disappear. They can have an accumulative effect and reappear as unattributable anxiety or dysfunctional behavior. A high...
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...personality, memory, sexuality and therapy. Other major thinkers have contributed work that grew out of Freud's legacy, while others developed new theories out of opposition to his ideas.”(Cherry, 2011). Freud’s major theories included the id, ego, and super ego, the conscience and unconscious, psychosexual development, and defense mechanisms. Id, Ego, and Superego The id, ego, and superego are what are known as the three components to the personality. The id shows itself from the moment one is born. It is the spoiled brat of the personality and driven by the pleasure principle. The id wants what it wants and it wants it immediately. While this aspect of personality is quite important during the years directly after birth so as the baby can get his or her needs met, if it is not overcome it can become socially crippling as the person grows into an older child and the an adult. The ego deals with reality.” According to Freud, the ego develops from the id and ensures that the impulses of the id can be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world.” (Cherry, 2011). The id and the ego are related but the ego tries to satisfy the needs of the id in more mature and acceptable ways. The superego is the final part of personality. “The superego is the aspect of personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society--our sense of right and wrong. The superego provides guidelines for making judgments.”(Cherry, 2011). The...
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...just like George, Lennie is special in his own ways because he can be a good sidekick, he can be a good caretaker, and he can also be a hard worker. Lennie should not be looked upon as a fugitive because he can be an affectionate person. George describes Lennie was “jus’ wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time” (22). It basically explains how Lennie has an affection to cute things and how loveable they are and how he himself as a mature adult should not be doing...
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...Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality The stages of human development are influenced by biological and humanistic theories. Maslow's hierarchy of needs stresses the need for and individual to discover their own personality and gain self-control in their personal life. Abraham Maslow had a theory that an individual will desire more in life once they have accomplished the basic needs in life. Humanistic features of personality focus on freedom and self-fulfillment. Unlike Maslow, Hans Eysenck and other theorist proclaimed that personality comes from a biological approach that an individual’s behavior is influenced by genetics. The following will consist of a description of how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs influence personality formations, biological factors that influence the formation of personality, the examination of the relationship of biological factors by Maslow’s theory of personality, along with basic aspects of humanistic theories incompatible with biological descriptions of personality. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory of human motivation based on biological, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self- actualization. Personality is influenced by ideas that create a foundation of an individual's life relations and peak experiences. An individual's experiences assist an individual to transform and discover the inner self. Peak experiences are familiar to individuals whom have matured and discovered their full potential. Maslow believed that...
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...molecules-major target of glucagon in the liver 4. A reaction that occurs in the hypoglycemic state to make glucose available 2. Hypothalmic hypophyseal tract 5. A nerve bundle which runs through the infundibulm 6. Arises from neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus 7. Neural connection to hypothalamus 8. Hypophyseal portal system a. Primary capillary plexus b. Hyophyseal portal veins c. Secondary capillary plexus 3. Posterior Pituitary a. Contains axons of hypothalamic neurons b. Stores antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin c. ADH and oxytocin are released in response to nerve impulses d. Both use PIP-calcium second-messenger mechanism at their targets Oxytocin 9. Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth by mobilizing Ca2+ through a PIP2-Ca2+ second-messenger system 10. Also triggers milk ejection (“letdown” reflex) in women producing milk 11. Plays a role in sexual arousal and orgasm in males and females ADH a. Hypothalamic osmoreceptors respond to changes in the solute concentration of the blood b. If solute concentration is high c. Osmoreceptors depolarize and transmit impulses to hypothalamic neurons d. ADH is synthesized and released, inhibiting urine formation e. If solute concentration is low f. ADH is not released, allowing water loss g. Alcohol inhibits ADH release and causes copious...
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...Freudian Defense Mechanisms While we studied Freud’s defense mechanism in class I could recognize how almost every single one of the mechanisms has been present in my life at some time, but a few were more predominate than others. The four that really stood out to me during your lecture were compartmentalization, displacement, emotional isolation, and undoing. In my life all four of these have been used by my ego in a way to try and reduce stress or tension that was or is occurring. I was born and raised in a strong Christian family. We prayed before all our meals and went to church every Sunday morning. As I grew older I also started to attend church on Wednesday and Sunday nights for youth group and small groups. I was taught numerous things such as not to drink, do drugs, have premarital sex, gossip, cheat, use curse words, or lie. Since I attended a private Christian school the majority of my childhood everyone around me had the same morals and beliefs so it was not hard to believe that this was the way I should live my life. Once I hit seventh grade the private school I was attending stopped offering classes to adolescents my age forcing me to attend public school, this is where everything changed. I began to date boys and say phrases like “ Oh my god” instead of “ Oh my gosh.” Public school was a completely different world that I didn’t even know existed until then, but middle school was just the beginning of my complete life change. Once I reached high school I got...
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...Primitive Defense Mechanisms 1. Denial * Someone told you that your loved one died but, you refused to believe it, you still keep her clothes clean and wait for her to come home. * A friend told you that she saw your boyfriend with another girl in the cinema, and you refuse to believe it, you make yourself believe that maybe it was just his friend, sister, or cousin. * You’re friends told you to join a singing contest but, you refused, because you think you will never succeed, and there are better singers than you that will also join. 2. Acting Out * Your girlfriend broke up with you and you got mad that you punched the mirror and somehow it made you feel better. * Someone says or does something that makes you feel offended in some way. You lash out at them with loud verbal taunts or you attack them physically * You ask your parents or guardians to do something. They say no. You do that “fake crying” that often results in your parents giving in to your request. 3. Projection * You have a strong dislike for someone; you might instead believe that he or she does not like you. * Your group presentation failed because you didn’t bring some materials that are needed but, you blamed another person. * John was caught by her wife having an affair but, he blames his wife because she doesn’t have time for him anyway. Less Primitive Defense Mechanism 1. Repression * A child who is abused by a parent later has no recollection of the events...
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...Theorists Main tenets of theory Unique contributions Limitations Freud Jung Adler Horney Defense Mechanisms Match the example with the appropriate defense mechanism. 1. _____A woman is involved in a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down, but she cannot remember any details of the accident. 2. _____Taking a test makes me nervous, so I bite my nails. 3. _____My boss yelled at me at work today and it made me very upset. I went home and ended up yelling at my spouse that night. 4. _____Even though I drink alcohol every day, I am not an alcoholic. 5. _____I hate Alex, but I am overly nice and friendly when interacting with him at work. 6. _____I broke up with my boyfriend, but I am fine with it because he was a loser anyway. 7. _____I am convinced that my husband is cheating on me, even though I am the one who frequently thinks about cheating on him. 8. _____I am very frustrated at work and just want to scream, but instead I go to the gym and work out my frustration on the treadmill. A. Displacement B. Rationalization C. Repression D. Sublimation E. Projection F. Denial G. Regression H. Reaction Formation Psychosexual Stages of Development Fill in the appropriate psychosexual stage for the following descriptions. 1. The ______ stage focuses on mature sexual relationships. 2. A 3rd grader still sucks their thumb. They may have a(n) _______ fixation. 3. An adult who exhibits...
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...University of Phoenix Material Week 4 Review Worksheet Psychodynamic Theories Complete the following table. |Theorists |Main tenets of theory |Unique contributions |Limitations | |Freud | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Jung | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Adler | | |...
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...Family Tradition and Theories Author’s Name Institution Family Tradition and Theories My family lives in the middle East and it consists of my grandfather Mansour, grandmother Fahiama, my father Amer, my mother Nada, my 17 years old sister Mariyah, my 23 years old brother Abdullah, my aunt, uncle and I. Our family tradition is taking breakfast together every Friday. Every member of the family ought to be present at the breakfast table no matter the time he or she slept last night. Even if one member of the family is mad at the other, he or she must be present at the table at 10 a.m. and none is supposed to leave the table until all the family members are through with their breakfast and said our prayers. This is because most of my family members are preoccupied and so they are always busy and do not find time to sit together with the rest of us who are not busy and have meals together. This makes connecting as a family very difficult and that is why the Friday meeting is compulsory for all of us. When we take breakfast together as a family, we share more than just food. Taking breakfast together is a way of building protective assets that strengthen our health and development. When we take breakfast together, we catch up with one another and spend time together even if it is for two hours only. We chat, ask one another how they spent their night, week, how they are faring in their jobs and about their plans for the day. Therefore, when we take Friday breakfast...
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...CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE This chapter presents the background of the study; the theoretical and conceptual frameworks; statements of the problem; the hypothesis; significance of the study; the scope and limitations of the study; and the conceptual definition of terms. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY College is a unique socialization experience. It’s the time when an individual is able to figure out who he or she is, as well as the type of friends he or she wants in his or her life. While intramurals, clubs, athletics, and dorm-life are common ways of socializing, joining Greek-life –Fraternity or Sorority– is also popular among college students. Fraternities and sororities provide many benefits to students such as leadership opportunities, participation in college activities, friendships and extended connections with other chapters around the nation. Although popular, induction into Greek organizations has become a problem because of the practice of hazing. As in many instances where new members are indoctrinated into an established organization there exists an imbalance of power. Various definitions exist to describe behaviors such as hazing and bullying but most emphasize “the continuity of harassment over time and the imbalance of power between the bullies and the victims.” (Adams, 1992; Leyman, 1990) This imbalance of power has the potential to create opportunities for abuse. Frequently this abuse manifests itself in the form of hazing. Hazing is defined as “…any...
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...Sigmund Freud the Founder of Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology * Born in Freiberg, Moravia May 6, 1856 * Began secondary school in Europe in 1874 * At the age of seventeen, Freud continued his education at the University of Vienna Medical School * At the age of 26, Freud met and fell in love with Martha Bernays, the daughter of the well-known Hamburg family. They were engaged in two months. * Freud and Martha would have six children, one of whom was Anna. She would later become one of his famous followers. * Freud died on September 23, 1939. * Allgemeine Krankenhaus a famous hospital where Freud spent 3 years as a resident physician. Five of those months were spent studying emotional and mental health. At the time behavior was not important, but merely a symptom * Freud then, returned home and established a private practice of neurology, where he devoted his efforts to the treatment of hysterical patients using hypnosis. * At the age of 39, Freud termed the treatment of “psychoanalysis” the way of treating certain mental illnesses by exposing and discussing a patients unconscious thoughts and feelings. * At the same time Freud began his own self-analysis by analyzing his dreams, which would result in his book, The Interpretation of Dreams * Freud is best known for being the founder of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychologies and his general contribution to the study of personality * According to Freud, the mind has...
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...According to Morris and Maisto (1998), the psychoanalytic theory begins with Freud’s discovery of the unconscious-all the ideas, thoughts and feelings of which an individual is not normally aware of. These ideas of Freud form the basis of psychoanalysis, a term that encompasses both his theory of personality and the form of therapy he invented. Morris and Maisto further explain that according to Freud, human behavior is based on unconscious instincts or drives and that some instinct are aggressive and destructive which he called thanatos and others such as hunger, thirst self preservation and sex which he called libido are necessary to the survival of a species. However, it is important to understand that Freud used the term sexual instincts to refer to not only erotic sexuality but also to the desire for virtually any form of pleasure. Thus in this broad sense Freud regarded the sexual instinct as the most critical fact in the development of personality. Holland (1995) explains further that Freud upon emphasizing the unconscious divided the mind into three parts, the conscious, preconscious and the unconscious. The conscious mind is what an individual is aware of at any particular moment, their present perceptions, memories, thoughts, fantasies and feelings. The second, working closely with the conscious mind is what Freud called the preconscious, what is today called "available memory" that is anything that can easily be made conscious. Consequently, this leaves the unconscious...
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...Organizational Culture & Leadership byEdgar H Schein "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em" Shakespeare, Twelfth Night notes compiled by Ted Nellen Oct 1997 OCAIonline (Organizational culture assessment instrument online) a hassle-free tool for diagnosing organizational culture, developed by professors Robert Quinn and Kim Cameron. Organizational Culture Blog Diagnosing and changing organizational culture Culture a phenomenon that surrounds us all. Culture helps us understand how it is created, embedded, developed, manipulated, managed, and changed. Culture defines leadership. Understand the culture to understand the organization. Defining Organizational Culture culture is customs and rights. good managers must work from a more anthropological model. Each org has its own way and an outsider brings his/her baggage as observer. Understand new environment and culture before change or observation can be made. 1. Observe behavior: language, customs, traditions 2. Groups norms: standards and values 3. Espoused values: published, publicly announced values. 4. Formal Philosophy: mission 5. Rules of the Game: rules to all in org 6. Climate: climate of group in interaction 7. Embedded skills: 8. Habits of thinking, acting, paradigms: Shared knowledge for socialization. 9. Shared meanings of the group 10. Metaphors or symbols: Culture: norms, values...
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