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Defence research, further analysing and defining and
creating 10 major defence mechanisms in the
Mechanisms 20th century. She defined these mechanisms
as “unconscious resources used by the ego”
and Stress to ultimately decrease internal stress. Defence
mechanisms can be internalized or externalized,
Management resulting in corresponding behaviour problems,
which can complicate psychiatric treatment;
however, having a thorough understanding
of defence mechanisms can help clinicians
Recognising defence mechanisms is a crucial progress through treatment and avoid pitfalls.
skill that anyone can benefit from, even when For example, during a patient encounter this
dealing with daily issues. There is a lot of misuse can help maintain an appropriate therapeutic
regarding the official terminology because and professional relationship.
of its use in our everyday language. I aim to In case defence mechanisms are distinguished
expand your knowledge on this subject and the early in life, it can offer assistance foreseeing
improvements it can bring to your daily life. the development of personality disorders.
Defence mechanisms were first brought up Hence, the early recognizable proof of defence
by Sigmund Freud, known as the father of components can have clinical importance.
psychoanalysis, in his paper “The Neuro- Depending on the setting and the seriousness,
Psychoses of Defence”. He describes them as defence mechanisms can be either maladaptive
unconscious mechanisms that people often or versatile.
use to resolve internal conflicts that are the We are going to look at these methods by
results of their id and superego clashing. By dividing them into two factions as “Primitive
recognising these methods, we can have a Defence Mechanisms” and “Higher-Level
better understanding of our own behaviours Defence Mechanisms”.
and learn to become more self-aware. Primitive defence mechanisms are any defence
Anna Freud then continued his father’s mechanism that protects against anxiety related
to the death instinct. Some of the common
primitive defence mechanisms are:
Denial: where a person rejects or ignores
external reality, choosing instead to focus on
internal justifications or misconceptions. This
allows them to avoid confronting the discomfort
of a difficult situation. For example, someone
may continue to buy expensive designer clothes
while being deep in financial debt, refusing to
acknowledge the financial consequences of
their actions.
Projection: the individual attributes their own
negative or maladaptive feelings, thoughts, or
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