PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENCE MECHANISMS

The key early figure in the development of psychology, Sigmund Freud, identified a series of "defence mechanisms," by which the human mind isolates its host from pain. Freud's work was built upon by his followers, and this page provides a simplistic list of commonly-cited defence mechanisms.

LEVEL IV: MATURE

Conscious processes which enable people to remain mentally healthy and capable of maintaining relationships.

Altruism

Being nice to others

Anticipation

Forewarned is forearmed

Humour

Life's too short to be serious - and laughter is the best medicine

Sublimation

Channeling negative thoughts and feelings into constructive activity

Suppression

Dealing with it - when you're ready

LEVEL III: NEUROTIC

Neurotic defence mechanisms sacrifice long-term emotional stability for short-term gains in coping, which can negatively effect interpersonal relationships.

Displacement Shifting impulses onto a target deemed more acceptable	Dissociation Transformation of identity to avoid distress	Intellectualisation Overanalysing an emotional situation	Isolation of affect Detaching emotion from an idea	Rationalisation Making excuses for poor conduct to convince oneself of one's rectitude
	Reaction formation Transforming negative impulses into their opposites	Regression Sometimes, being an adult is no fun	Repression Burying desire to avoid suffering (is the English way...)
	Social comparisons In short, snobbery as a means to feel better	Undoing Cancelling negative thoughts by performing the opposing action	Withdrawal They can't hurt you if they can't find you

LEVEL II: IMMATURE

Common in adults, immature defence mechanisms can cause serious misinterpretations of reality and, when dominant in a person, render them difficult to build healthy relationships with.

Acting out Acting on an impulse one needn't be necessarily aware of	Hypochondriasis Do I look pale to you?	Idealisation Putting the object of one's ardour on an unwarranted pedestal	Introjection A notion so appealing it becomes a part of you	Passive-aggression Indirectly expressing hostility
Projection "It's not me, it's you! Dickhead..."	Projective identification "... or maybe it's me after all"	Schizoid fantasy Reality fails to live up to expectations sometimes	Somatisation Uncomfortable thoughts cause pain - literally	Wishful thinking Rationality fails to live up to expectations sometimes

LEVEL I: PATHOLOGICAL

Pathological defence mechanisms drastically rearrange reality in one's mind. They predominate in dreams, early childhood and in psychotic states.

	Autoaggression I hurt myself to let pain out	Conversion The conflict in my soul leaves me paralysed	Delusional projection They're out to get me
	Denial Thisisn'trealthisisnothappening...	Distortion Reality isn't doing it for me, so I'll change it	Splitting Creating a psychodrama between good and evil