Common defense mechanisms

Immature (includes primitive & neurotic)

• Acting out: Easing unacceptable feelings by behaving badly
• Denial: Behaving as if an aspect of reality does not exist
• Displacement: Transferring feelings to a more acceptable object
• Dissociation: Disrupting memory, identity & consciousness to cope with an event
• Distortion: Altering perception of upsetting reality to be more acceptable
• Fantasy: Substituting imaginary scenarios
• Intellectualization: Using intellect to avoid uncomfortable feelings
• Isolation of affect: Separating a thought from its emotional components
• Passive aggression: Avoiding conflict by expressing hostility covertly
• Projection: Attributing one’s own feelings to others
• Rationalization: Justifying behavior to avoid difficult truths
• Reaction formation: Responding in a manner opposite to one’s actual feelings
• Regression: Reverting to earlier in developmental stage
• Repression: Blocking upsetting feelings from entering consciousness
• Somatization: Transforming emotional conflicts into physical symptoms
• Splitting: Seeing others as all bad or all good

Mature

• Altruism: Avoiding negative feelings by helping others