Defense Mechanisms FACS of Life

You imagine a classmate dislikes you, but you actually dislike them. There is no logical reason to believe they dislike you.

Blaming other people for our failures, or placing our negative feelings on other people is called:

• Denial

• Daydreaming

• Projection

Transferring an emotion connected with one person ot thing to another person or thing.

You direct strong emotions toward a person or thing that doesn't feel threatening.

• Direct attack

• Displacement

• Fawning

Adults who are struggling to cope with events or behaviors may return to sleeping with a cherished stuffed animal, overeat foods they find comforting, or begin chewing on pencils or pens.

These behaviors are examples of:

• Regression

• Fight

• Idealization

Explaining your weaknesses by giving socially acceptable excuses.

Some people may attempt to explain undesirable behaviors with their own set of “facts.” This allows you to feel comfortable with the choice you made, even if you know on another level it’s not right.

• Direct Attack

• Displacement

• Rationalization

You are feeling stressed about not completing a project. Instead of focusing of completing the project, you stare off.

Imagining something you have not accomplished in reality.

• Daydreaming

• Fight

• Conversion

Using a substitute method to achieve a desired goal

A person makes up for the bad health habit of eating too many desserts by being very committed to working out every day.

• Displacement

• Giving Up

• Compensation

You already feel annoyed and irritable. Now you have been asked to take care of extra chores around the house. You also have a hard test to study for. Your feelings of stress cause a headache and tiredness.

• Regression

• Conversion

• Projection

A teenager in awe of a rock star idealizes their idol, imagining them to have a perfect life, to be kind and thoughtful, and so on.

Placing value on something or someone that is far beyond what it is worth is called:

• Daydreaming

• Rationalization

• Idealization

Instead of accepting the good and the bad within a person or situation, you exaggerate the good and focus only on the good.

• Regression

• Idealization

• Compensation

Overcoming obstacles or problems through realistic efforts to find solutions

• Direct Attack

• Flight

• Displacement