The following is a list of common defense mechanisms used:

Blaming or Attacking Others

When our ego becomes threatened, we feel vulnera
ble and hurt, or we don t want to admit our own short-comings or contributions to
the problem, we try to cope with this pain by blaming or attacking others instea
d. For example, a husband blames and yells at his wife for not cleaning the hou
se because he believes that if she does not care about him. Instead of sharing
his vulnerability or needs clearly he attacks her and says, You are a horrible wi
fe and I made a mistake marrying you.
Rationalization
Subconscious justifications, excuses or reasoning given to m
ake a behavior seem logical
A student fails the final he didn t study for and says
couldn t have passed it anyway that teacher has it in for me.

Reaction Formation
Over-compensation for fear of the opposite. When there a
re two conflicting parts in self-one is strengthened while the other is represse
d. For example, someone may be extremely calm and relaxed, but may have a lot o
f repressed hostility and anger that they are unaware of on a conscious level.
Excuses
Coming up with a list of reasons why a particular action occurred or
examples of why action couldn t be taken, instead of taking responsibility for be
haviors and actions. A professor arrives late to an appointment without completi
ng the report by the agreed upon deadline and said, There was so much traffic and
my wife didn t fill up the gas tank last night so I had to stop and get gas on th
e way. To top it off my son was running late this morning so I had to wait for
him and I didn t finish the report last night because my colleagues were behind on
data collection.
Projection
Attempts to banish or disown unwanted and disliked thoughts, behavi
ors, and even parts of self by projecting or attributing them to someone else. May
be as simple as blaming someone else
He should have let me off on that ticket bu
t that cop was trying to fill his monthly quota.
Introjection
The opposite of projection
subconsciously takes in to self an imp
rint (or recording) of another person including all their attitudes, messages, p
rejudices, expressions, even the sound of their voice, etc. This is healthy if
the imprinted material is helpful advice, warnings, or other lessons from parent
s and respected others unhealthy if shaming messages from parents, hatred, or ag
gression is turned inward on self.
Deflection When you change the subject and focus on someone or something els
e, instead of speaking about yourself. For example, when someone is asking abou
t your behaviors in the relationship and you change the subject and focus on the
negative behaviors of your spouse instead.
Displacement This defense reduces anxiety or pressure by transferring feelin
gs toward one person to another
commonly known as dumping on someone. For example
, a woman is mad her boss and kicks the dog when she gets home, or blows up and
yells at her family.
Regression Giving up current level of development and going back to a prior
level. For example, an older child is under stress and begins wetting the bed o
r sucking a thumb after a long period without that behavior.
Simple Denial
Unpleasant facts, emotions, or events are treated as if they a
re not real or don t exist.
For example, a man recently discovered that his wife i
s cheating on him, but he acts as though everything is normal and they are still
trustworthy and faithful.
Playing the Victim

To avoid dealing with the problem or feeling responsible

for the situation, the victim finds it easier to make the other person the bad g
uy and believes that everything happens to them. They have difficulty taking an
y ownership for problems (i.e. the breakdown in the relationship) and are unable
to acknowledge they have choices and can take action.
Fantasy

Retreating into a dream world of times past.

Suppression
Painful, frightening, or threatening emotions, memories, impulse
s or drives that are consciously pushed or stuffed inside.
Identification An ability available very early in life that children use to
attach themselves to certain qualities, emotions, and attitudes of someone else
especially between 8 and 13 during the modeling period.
Conversion Mental conflict converted to a physical symptom. For example, a
soldier is being deployed for war; however feels conflicted because he desires s
erving his country, but believes it is wrong to kill and develops physical sympt
oms as a result.
Anger and Intimidation
This is when a person deep down inside feels powerles
s and weak on some level and uses emotional intensity, threatens, intimidation a
nd fear to get his/her needs met.
Isolation
Separation of memory from emotion can remember and talk about the tr
auma but feels no emotion
the Person talks about the incident as if it is someon
e else s story.
Sublimation
Redirection of impulses into socially acceptable activities
norm
al and healthy, such as when the sexual impulses of adolescence is channeled int
o sports and competition.
Repression Painful, frightening, or threatening emotions, memories, impulses
or drives that are subconsciously pushed or stuffed deep inside.