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| Attempting to make up for perceived deficiencies by emphasizing another trait. (conscious counterpart: deliberately overcoming or substituting) counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other arenas |
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| Refusal to accept reality by blocking or ignoring; to act as if unpleasant (or painful) thoughts, feelings, &/or wishes do not exist. Believing what is true to actually be false. most primitive of the defense mechanisms because it is characteristic of very early childhood development |
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| Redirecting, transferring or discharging an emotion from the original object or person to a safer, more acceptable object or person. Redirection of emotions to a substitute target. |
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| Adopting attributes or characteristics of another person or group usually held in high esteem (i.e. ideas, customs, beliefs, behaviors, values, attitudes). (conscious counterpart: imitating) |
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| Excessive reasoning or logic used to avoid experiencing disturbing feelings. Separating emotion from an idea or thought because the emotional reaction is too painful to be acknowledged. An objective viewpoint. |
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Definition
| Accepting and incorporation another’s values and opinion’s as if they were your own. This can be a defense mechanism where one takes on attributes of a strong other person who is able to cope with the current threat or in response to grief. |
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Definition
| Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, mistakes or inadequacies onto another person. (conscious counterpart: blaming) |
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| Explaining or justifying one’s own unacceptable feelings, behaviors or decisions with logical reason or socially acceptable explanations. Creating false but credible justifications. (conscious counterpart: lying) |
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Definition
| Replacing (changing) original feelings and behaviors with the direct opposite feelings and behaviors (conscious counterpart: making yourself do things) change dangerous wishes to opposite |
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| Returning to earlier, immature patterns of behavior which had been a successful coping method. |
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Definition
Eliminating unacceptable or painful feelings, thoughts, or experiences from the conscious memory.
(conscious counterpart: suppression) |
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| Channeling instinctual drives (impulses, needs) into acceptable behaviors and actions. |
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| Consciously excluding from awareness, anxiety producing feelings, ideas, and situations. |
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Term
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Definition
Doing something to counteract or make up for a transgression or wrongdoing.
(conscious counterpart: apologizing, restitution) |
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