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Goodluck Akotibe
more than 2 weeks ago

What is Defence mechanism?

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ChatGPT
more than 2 weeks ago
Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that individuals use unconsciously to cope with anxiety and protect themselves from perceived threats or distressing thoughts and feelings. These mechanisms operate at an unconscious level and help individuals manage internal conflicts and maintain a sense of psychological equilibrium. Defense mechanisms can vary in their effectiveness and can be adaptive or maladaptive depending on the situation. Some common defense mechanisms include denial, repression, projection, rationalization, and displacement.
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Google Gemini AI
more than 2 weeks ago
Defence Mechanisms

Defence mechanisms are unconscious psychological processes that the psyche activates to protect itself from overwhelming anxiety, conflict, or unacceptable thoughts and feelings. They help individuals maintain a sense of stability and self-esteem by distorting, minimizing, or rationalizing threatening situations.

Types of Defence Mechanisms:

- Repression: Burying or suppressing threatening thoughts and feelings from consciousness.
- Regression: Reverting to earlier, less mature behaviours to cope with stress.
- Projection: Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
- Denial: Refusing to acknowledge the reality of a threatening situation or event.
- Rationalization: Creating false or illogical explanations to justify unacceptable behaviours or thoughts.
- Displacement: Transferring feelings or behaviours from one object or person to another.
- Sublimation: Channelling unacceptable impulses into acceptable or constructive activities.
- Reaction Formation: Behaving in a manner opposite to one's true feelings or impulses.
- Isolation: Separating thoughts or feelings from the context in which they occur.
- Intellectualization: Focusing on the intellectual aspects of a situation to avoid emotional involvement.
- Compartmentalization: Keeping thoughts, feelings, and behaviours separate and disconnected.
- Introjection: Internalizing the values and beliefs of others, often without conscious awareness.
- Splitting: Seeing people or situations in extremes, as either all good or all bad.

Functions of Defence Mechanisms:

- Reduce anxiety and stress.
- Maintain a positive self-image.
- Help individuals cope with difficult emotions and situations.

Drawbacks of Defence Mechanisms:

- Can lead to unrealistic and distorted perceptions of reality.
- May prevent individuals from addressing underlying conflicts and problems effectively.
- Can become habitual and interfere with healthy functioning.

It's important to note that defence mechanisms are not inherently harmful. They can be adaptive when used in moderation. However, excessive or inflexible use of defence mechanisms can be problematic and may require professional intervention.
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