Defense Mechanisms

Refusal to accept reality; ignoring events.

• Idealization

• Regression

• Denial

• Sublimation

Keeping thoughts/feelings in the subconscious so that you are unaware of them.

• Sublimation

• Regression

• Denial

• Repression

Making excuses/ having a better image in mind than what is really happening.

• Sublimation

• Idealization

• Displacement

• Rationalization

Used to escape from reality; using a fantasy to escape from a boring, uncomfortable or stressful situation.

• Regression

• Repression

• Daydreaming

• Displacement

Using a half-truth to rationalize or make an excuse for a negative/unwanted outcome.

• Denial

• Idealization

• Rationalization

• Compensation

Redirecting a negative feeling into a positive behavior.

• Sublimation

• Displacement

• Projection

• Repression

Placing one’s own unacceptable thought onto others; blaming someone else for how you feel.

• Projection

• Regression

• Displacement

• Denial

Resorting back to childlike behavior to escape from a stressor.

• Repression

• Regression

• Idealization

• Denial

Involves taking out frustrations on unrelated or undeserving people/objects.

• Projection

• Denial

• Displacement

• Sublimation

Overachieve in one area in order to compensate for failures in another area.

• Projection

• Compensation

• Denial

• Displacement