Defense Mechanisms
Denial
16 year old Tom was using drugs, but his mom didn't believe the principal when he told her about the problem
Denial
50-year old Bill wears clothes that you'd see on teenagers and he drives a sports car
Rationalization
After Carla rejected him, Phil told his friends he didn't think she was attractive and he wasn't crazy about her anyway
Regression
After Sue Ann's baby brother was born, she began to suck her thumb
Sublimation
After Taylor and her boyfriend broke up, she wrote a song about how angry she was
Undoing
After accidentally eating another patient's cookies, Deborah apologizes to the patients, cleans the fridge, and labels everyone's snack with their names
Displacement
After her new baby brother came home from the hospital, the parents discovered Cheryl has dismembered her favorite doll
Sublimation
Cindy, a former perpetrator of incest who fears relapse, forms a local chapter of Sex Addicts Anonymous
Conversion
Dolly wakes up with a migraine the morning of a final exam and feels too ill to take the test. She does not realize that 2 hours of cramming left her unprepared
Regression
Gina has been wetting her bed at night since her baby sister was born
Compensation
Harry, who is depressed and unable to share his feelings with other patients, writes and becomes known for his expressive poetry
Rationalization
Jack told his parents he got a C in psychology because all the As and Bs went to students who cheated on tests
Repression
Jason was abused as a child, but he doesn't remember the events
Displacement
Jerry comes home after a bad day at work and yells and his wife
Rationalization
Joe thinks his coach is so critical because he's trying to help him do his best
Intellectualization
Julia says "This situation reminds me of how Nietzche said that anger is ontological despair"
Reaction Formation
LaSarah has unconscious hostility towards her father, but she acts very affectionate towards him.
Reaction Formation
Lucy dresses in provocative clothes although she fears she is unattractive
Displacement
Mark slammed the door to the classroom after failing the exam
Dissociation
Mary recalls that when she was sexually molested as a child, she felt as if she were outside of her body watching what was happening without feeling anything
Regression
Mary was homesick and anxious when she started college. She slept with her favorite teddy bear again.
Identification
Melissa states to the nurse, "When I get out of the hospital, i want to be a nurse just like you"
Rationalization
Mr. Jones, diagnosed with schizophrenia, states that he cannot go to work because his co-workers are mean, instead of admitting that his illness interferes with working
Intellectualization
Ms. Mann talks about her son's death from cancer as being merciful and shows no signs of her sadness and anger
Suppression
Ms. ames states to the nurse that she is not ready to talk about her recent divorce
Repression
People held in concentration camps may not be able to remember what happened while there
Projection
Sally comes home late from a dance and states that her date would not bring her home on time
Reaction Formation
Wally, who unconsciously wishes her mother were dead, continuously tells staff that her mother is wonderful
Introjection
Without realizing it, Tony wishes, talks, and acts similarly to his therapist, analyzing other patients