Sigmund
Freud believed that people protected themselves through the use of Defense
Mechanisms. Sigmund Freud thought that people would use these mechanisms to
protect themselves against feelings of anxiety, conflict, guilt, or other
unacceptable feelings or thoughts (Weiten, 2008). In class we discussed six
types of defense mechanisms: (1) Repression, (2) Displacement, (3) Sublimation,
(4) Reaction Formation, (5) Projection, and (6) Identification. However, there are other defense mechanisms
(denial, rationalization, isolation). I am going to briefly describe the
aforementioned mechanisms and give an example of each. I will also explain my
opinion on Freud’s theory.
Repression is where a person pushes
thoughts, or conflicts, out of consciousness (Weiten, 2008). I can personally
relate to this mechanism. I was in a bicycle accident when I was ten, and I
suffered extreme trauma. I do not recall wiping out; however, I do recall bits
and pieces of what happened after the accident. I once answered a therapist why
I could not recall what happened, and he explained that it was my mind’s way of
protecting itself. He also informed me that it was okay that I did not
remember. The thing that I found confusing was my body’s response when I would
try to ride a bike again. My body would shake when I would go down a hill, or
if the bike started going too fast. It took a while for my body to feel safe
riding a bike, again.
Displacement is when a person
changes the recipient of their feelings to another person; their feelings are
released in a safer situation or environment (Weiten, 2008). My son looks up to
his grandfather. They have a special relationship. A few months ago my son got
into an argument with his grandfather and he yelled at him (he even told him he
was going to kill him). My son’s behavior was abnormal, not typical of the way
he normally behaved. We brought him to speak to a counselor and we were
informed that he was displacing his feeling he had towards another person. He
was very angry with that person and he did not know how to express his feelings
to that person so he took it out on his grandfather because he felt safe.
Sublimation is when a person
re-channels their energy to some kind of creative activity. Ms. Polvere
explained that a good example of this is when a mother loses a child in a drunk
driver accident and then channels her energy to become an advocate. I believe I
can see this is other parents that have lost their children and have spent
years advocating for their loss by trying to change the laws so that what
happened to them will not happen again. That is why we see legislation named
after people.
A reaction formation is a pattern of
behavior that is opposite to hoe the person really feels. If a mother dislikes
her child, she may spoil the child to hide the thoughts that she has. I do not
think that this type of parent can be constant in their behavior. I think that
their behavior would be inconsistent. Another example of this is when two
people like each other, rather than showing signs of affection they pick on
each other.
Projection is where a person
transfers their own thought onto another person. A good example of this is when
a person has low self-esteem. Because they do not like themselves they may
assume that others do not like them. Then, when they go out they feel everyone
is talking about them. Although, the truth of the matter is other people have
many things to do and they do not spend all of their time thinking bad things
about one person.
Identification
is when a person takes on the characteristics of another person. An example of
this is when a parent abuses a child, but the child refuses to admit that the
parent did anything wrong. The child identifies with the parent. At times they
can even start to believe that it was them who did something wrong and not the
parent.
I am able to see how Freud came up
with the aforementioned defense mechanisms. I believe that they make sense, and
I can see these types of defense mechanisms being used by people who do not
have a mental health diagnosis. If I think about it long enough I can probably
think of a time when I have used some of these mechanisms. An example of this
might be when my grandfather died. At first I did not believe it happened. The
phone call was not real; I had just spoken to him the other day. It wasn’t
until I attended his funeral that I knew it was not just a dream, but they way
that thing played out when he first died seem so unreal. I believe a person’s
thoughts will have an impact on a person’s behavior. People cannot hide what
they are truly thinking because one way, or another, their thoughts will have
an impact on their behavior.
Sigmund Freud thought that people
would use these mechanisms to protect themselves against unacceptable feelings
or thoughts (Weiten, 2008). I have gone over the following defense mechanisms:
(1) Repression, (2) Displacement, (3) Sublimation, (4) Reaction Formation, (5)
Projection, and (6) Identification. However, it is my understanding that
Freud’s daughter continued his work and that she added to her father’s list of
defense mechanisms. I think that no matter what the total number of mechanisms
there are out there, if you can explain why a person behaves the way that they
do and teach them positive coping skills they are likely to live a healthier
life.
References
Polvere, Lauren. Lectures for
class. April 13, 2009.
Weiten, W. (2008). Psychology: Themes and Variations, Briefer
Edition. Ohio : Thomson
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