koendriks kinky keepsakes

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there is something of nothing in me, that's quite a lot. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- nothing is more important than nothing. -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- i graduated primary school, but all i had to know i learned in the kindergarten (robert fulghum). -+-+-+-+-+-

07/03/2010

mechanisms and manifestations


....mechanism...................as a defense...........as a coping
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. discrimination................dissociation.............objectivity

2. means-end symbolize...rationalization.........logical analysis

3. selective awareness.....denial......................concentration

4. sensitivity......................projection................empathy

5. time reversal.................regression...............playfulness

6. impulse diversion..........displacement...........sublimation

7. impulse restraint...........repression...............suppression

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06/03/2010

defense mechanisms alfabet


defenses may hide any of a variety of thoughts or feelings: anger, fear, sadness, depression, greed, envy, competitiveness, love, passion, admiration, criticalness, dependency, selfishness, grandiosity, helplessness.

acting-out. dealing with emotional stressors by actions rather then reflexions or feelings. when a person acts without thinking or regard for the consequences. you use physical actions instead of dealing with challenges directly by reflecting on and speaking about your feelings. for example, a man has an extramarital affair because he cannot verbalize his feelings of frustration or helplessness within the marriage. for example, a person facing a small problem responds quickly with intense passion when the situation would not have required it.
affiliation. you seek out others for emotional support or physical help.
aggression. identified in assault and destruction. direct aggression targets the source of threat. indirect aggression shades into displacement mechanism.
aim inhibition. note that the first example could include the mechanism of displacement, and the second, rationalization. up to a point, mutual idealization can make for a happy relationship; however, unrealistic expectations of another person based upon this mechanism can lead to serious disappointment. aim inhibition, like the other mechanisms, is neither healthful nor pathological, desirable nor undesirable, in itself. it may be better to have half a loaf than no bread, but an unnecessary aim inhibition may rob one of otherwise attainable satisfactions. placing a limitation upon instinctual demands; accepting partial or modified fulfillment of desires. example: (1) a person is conscious of sexual desire but if finding it frustrating, "decides" that all that is really wanted in the relationship is companionship. (2) a student who originally wanted to be a physician decides to become a physician's assistant.
aggressive humor. some persons, however, use humor to hide aggressive impulses. it might seem that they are always good-natured and happy, but if you listen closely you can hear them ending every sentence with a “ha-ha-ha” sort of giggle. this in effect tells the listener, “i’m really frightened of conflict, so please don’t take seriously anything i say, lest you be offended by it and want to challenge me.”
altruism. dealing with emotional stressors by dedication to meeting the need of others. you do good and kind things for others, rather than worry about your own immediate satisfaction or fears. for example, a person putting away her own problems starts to volunteer.
amnesia. the memory is hidden by repressive mechanisms. motives anxiety or guilt.
anti-activities.
anticipation. you think ahead to events that might occur in the future and consider realistic responses or solutions.
apathetic withdrawal. you simply withdraw from interaction with the world rather than deal with its assaults and challenges.
avoidance. suppression, done in moderation, and in the proper circumstances, can be healthy and protective. but in excess it becomes avoidance, one of the characteristic qualities of post-traumatic stress disorder.
autistic fantasy. when a person becomes preoccupied with day-dreaming, instead of pursuing relationships. you withdraw into excessive daydreaming rather than take effective action.
child-neglect
compensation. faced with feelings of inadequacy or incompetence the subject seeks to excell in some other arena.
compulsive movements. blepharospasms, blinking, gestures, hair picking, mannerisms, nail-biting, rituals and tics
concentration. mechanism selective awareness (opposite to denial)
conflict
deflection
. also detected when the individual is in group therapy and consists of redirecting attention to another group member.
denial. when a person denies the reality of the situation. you completely reject the thought or feeling. you refuse to acknowledge what is readily apparent to others. when you’re in denial, the truth is your enemy and your accuser. denial is the first form of self-deception. denial of impulses, memories or actions. elizabeth kübler-ross identifies denial as a normal stage in the process of coping with loss in a mental healthy person (through denial to acceptance).
depression.
devaluation. when a person thinks unrealistically more lowly of himself or others. you tell yourself that something desirable but immediately unattainable is somehow defective. for example, the fox in aesop’s fable tells himself that the grapes out of his reach are probably sour. hence the expression “sour grapes.”
disguise. the second form of self-deception. positive motives + to maintain or to enhance self-esteem. negative motives - escape or defend against anxiety.
displacement. when a person redirects his feelings on to someone else. you redirect your feelings to an other safer target. you transfer your feelings about one object to another, less threatening object. for example, the boss yells at husband, the husband at the wife, the wife at the kid, who kicks the dog. a form of indirect aggression for example scapegoating and prejudice against minority groups. sublimation of the impulse diversion is a method of coping.
dissociation. you separate yourself from reality by a breakdown of normal conscious functions of memory or identity. for example, in a car crash you don’t feel like you’re experiencing it yourself, or you don’t feel like you’re experiencing it in your body, or you develop amnesia about the final moments of the crash. may lead to compulsive movements as blepharospasm, blinking, gestures, hair-picking, mannerisms, rituals and tics or to excessive theorizing or intellectualization as a substitute for action.
dissociative amnesia. selective elements of an event are “forgotten”.
empathy. mechanism sensitivity (opposite to projection)
fantasy. escape into a dream world is an immature response but may-be a safe strategy for coping in the form of a role-play.
frustration.
fixation: the cessation of the process of development of the personality at a stage short of complete and uniform mature independence is known as fixation.
help-rejecting complaining. you make a show of asking for help, yet because of hidden feelings of hostility you reject all help or advice that is offered. for example, a woman suffering from bereavement begins to lose weight. a neighbour brings some yogurt, and the woman complains that she only eats goat’s milk yogurt. a physician prescribes medication, and the woman stops taking it because she doesn’t like the way it makes her feel. a psychologist offers psychotherapy and she complains that the office is too far away. and so on.
humor. you notice the amusing or ironic aspects of something. some persons, however, use humor to hide aggressive impulses. it might seem that they are always good-natured and happy, but if you listen closely you can hear them ending every sentence with a “ha-ha-ha” sort of giggle. this in effect tells the listener, “i’m really frightened of conflict, so please don’t take seriously anything i say, lest you be offended by it and want to challenge me”. humor is pathological to the degree that it substitutes for authentic emotional experience.
idealization. when a person thinks unrealistically more highly of himself or others. you attribute exaggerated positive qualities to an other.
identification. as a normal childhood developmental process of taking in of experience symbolically in order to identify with other persons (especially parents), this is often called introjection. but identification can also have a defensive function, as in . the subject seeks to negate a personal weakness by associating with and/or emulating a perceived power figure.
identification with the aggressor. as a defensive function.
incorporation. the assimilation of the object into one's own ego and/or superego. this is one of the earliest mechanisms utilized. The parent becomes almost literally a part of the child. parental values, preferences, and attitudes are acquired.
indirect aggression. shades into the displacement mechanism.
intellectualization. when a person uses excessive abstract thinking to avoid his feelings. you focus on abstract logic or philosophy and minimize feelings about an event, avoiding unacceptable emotions. for example, after an earthquake damages your home, you talk to others primarily about the structural engineering factors of the damage. a type of rationalization, only more intellectualized and close to repression (of feelings).
introjection. as a normal childhood developmental process of taking in of experience symbolically in order to identify with other persons (especially parents)
isolation. when a person is unable to experience the thought and feeling together of an experience. his feelings remain hidden.
isolation of affect. You remain aware of the descriptive details of an event but lose connection with the feelings about the event itself. you “think” the feeling but don’t really feel it.
logical analysis. mechanism means-end symbolization (opposite to rationalisation).
mannerisms.
murder.
neglect.
objectivity. mechanism discrimination (opposite to dissociation).
omnipotence. You feel or act as if you possessed special powers or abilities superior to others. for example, a child left alone in the house every day after school by working parents fantasizes that he is a comic book superhero.
over-compensation. to compensate for inadequacy and incompetence, doe better in some way.
over-identification. the subject fails to differentiate positive and negative aspects of the role-model’s character, even in the most positive role-model in that it substitutes for real personal growth.
over-indulgence.
over-protection.
passive aggression. when a person indirectly expresses aggression toward others. you present a façade of compliance, yet, because of hidden resentment, something always happens - you get sick, the bus is late, your car breaks down, etc. - so that you ultimately obstruct, rather than complete, the task. “wait a minute,” you say. “it’s not my fault that the bus was late.” well, that may be true in some circumstances, but we’re talking here about things - one thing or another - that happen over and over again to frustrate the plans of someone else. It could be very possible that you “knew” unconsciously just how much of a delay it would take to miss that bus, and you “knew” that you could be late. thus, rather than catching the bus before the bus that will get you there on time, so as to guarantee not being late, you ignore the warning signs, “knowing” what will happen. it may sound weird, but as is often said, “life is stranger than fiction”.
playfulness. mechanism time recersal (opposite to regression).
post-traumatic stress disorder. suppression in excess or avoidance is one of the characteristics of this disorder.
prejudice. form of displacement of indirect aggression against minority groups.
primitivation. falling back on earlier primitive stages of development.
projection. when a person falsely attributes his own feelings, thoughts, or impulses to others. you falsely attribute to others your own unacceptable feelings or undesirable qualities. for example, a woman complains that a friend is insulting her because he hates women, when actually she harbours a secret hatred for men because she was sexually abused as a child. projection is a form of rationalization, that uses the other as a scapegoat. often used by adults with low self esteem become very critical at others, who have the same problems, they unconsciously perceive.
projective identification. as in projection, you falsely attribute to others your own unacceptable feelings, but here you remain aware of the feelings yet believe they are justifiable reactions to another person. for example, you feel angry that you have been assigned to work on a project, but instead of recognizing your resentment, you start to feel angry with a co-worker, believing that she lacks commitment to the project. this sort of behaviour can lead to what is called a self-fulfilling prophecy. for example, an insecure and jealous person who is intensely afraid of abandonment can so often impute feelings of infidelity into others that they eventually get sick of such suspicion and criticism and end up actually abandoning him or her.
rationalization. when a person gives an incorrect explanation for his behaviour to justify what he did. you come up with various explanations to justify the situation (while denying your feelings). you conceal your true motives by making incorrect, self-serving explanations. for example, a parent beats a child, saying that it is not abuse because “that’s how my father disciplined me”. liking or disliking as an excuse, blaming circumstances and other people, necessity as an excuse.
reaction formation. when a person does the opposite of his own unacceptable thoughts, feelings or actions. you turn the feeling, thought or behaviour into its opposite. your behaviours, thoughts, or feelings are complete opposite of your actual (unconscious) desires. closely related to projection. for example, you dislike your job and yet you tell everyone how wonderful it is. leads to overprotection, overindulgence and anti-activities.
redundancy.
regression. returning to a previous stage of development. two forms retrogression (already experienced earlier) and primitivation (immature behaviour). only slightly removed from withdrawal.
repression. when a person unconsciously hides his uncomfortable feelings, thoughts or experience so they are not remembered. pulling into the unconscious. this is probably the most used defense mechanism and the basis for all others. you lose all conscious memory of an event, total amnesia in contrast to dissociative amnesia in which selective elements of an event are “forgotten.” also, in repression you may retain certain emotional components of the event even though you have no memory of the event. for example, a woman who as a child was sexually abused by her father may feel anxious and uneasy whenever finding herself alone in a room with an older man, even though she cannot remember the childhood abuse itself. (note, however, that this emotional component in itself does not prove that abuse once happened, because the woman’s anxiety could have other, unconscious causes). amnesia repression vs suppression. indirect expression and symbolism. repression is closely related to denial.
resentment. feelings of revenge or vengeance. often unconscious.
resistance: this defense mechanism produces a deep-seated opposition to the bringing of repressed (unconscious) data to awareness. through its operation, the individual seeks to avoid memories or insights which would arouse anxiety.
restitution. the mechanism of relieving the mind of a load of guilt by making up or reparation (paying up with interest).
retrogression. falling back on a stage earlier experienced.
scape-goating. form of displacement of indirect aggression against minority groups.
self-assertion. you act toward others in a way that is emotionally genuine and honest and that is not coercive or manipulative.
self-deception. two chief forms of defense mechanisms: denial and disguise
self-fulfilling prophecy. in excess projective Identification.
self-observation. you reflect upon and consider your emotions and thoughts, so as to act responsibly.
splitting. you see everything as either all good or all bad, sometimes alternating between the two in regard to one person.
somatization. when a person becomes overly preoccupied with his health.
sublimation. originally restricted to the process of redirecting libido energy to other creative efforts. you direct socially harmful impulses into socially acceptable forms of behaviour or you redirect the feeling into a socially productive activity.
substitution. compensation and overcompensation. sublimation.
suicide. aggression against self.
suppression. mechanisme impulse restraint (opposite to repression). when a person consciously tries to hide his uncomfortable feelings, thoughts or experiences. pushing into the unconscious. you are vaguely aware of the thought or feeling, but try to hide it. you avoid thinking about disturbing experiences or feelings. done in moderation, and in the proper circumstances, this can be healthy and protective. but in excess it becomes avoidance, one of the characteristic qualities of post-traumatic stress disorder.
symbolization. turning unwanted thoughts into metaphoric symbols.
tics. a spasm-like contraction of motor muscles.
total amnesia. form of ultimate repression. motives anxiety or guilt.
transference. a displacement of esteem away from appropriate objects, to the analyst, and eventually to the patient’s self.
trivializing. making small what is really something big.
undoing. when a person’s action are meant to symbolically atone for his bad thoughts, feelings or actions. attempting to reverse the effects of a negative act or feeling of guilt, by compensating with a good act. you use symbolic means to negate or make amends for unacceptable thoughts or feelings. for example, you repetitively wash your hands as an unconscious gesture of “washing away” the guilt of feeling angry at someone you depend upon. you try to reverse or undo your feeling by doing the opposite. it may be an apology for the real feeling you find unacceptable within yourself. the aa program: making amands = amands-making. the reverse of undoing = righting wrongs is clearly identifiable as an offense mechanisme: vengeance = wronging wrongs.
vengeance = wronging wrongs
withdrawal. beyond regression lies this most extreme of defence mechanisms. depression sufferers are particular prone to withdrawal, almost a hallmark of the disorder. "burning bridges” right up to suicide.

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05/03/2010

ego-defense and addiction


ego-defense mechanisms are learned, usually during early childhood. they are developed to deal with inner hurt, pain, anger, anxiety, sadness and self-devaluation. they operate on relatively automatic and habitual levels.

01. denial of reality: protecting self from unpleasant reality by refusal to perceive it or face it.
02. fantasy: gratifying frustrated desires by imaginary achievements.
03. repression: preventing painful or dangerous thoughts from entering consciousness.
04. rationalization: attempting to prove that one's behavior is 'rational' and justifiable and thus worthy of self and social approval.
05. projection: placing blame for difficulties upon others or attributing one's own unethical desires to others.
06. reaction formation: preventing dangerous desires from being expressed by adopting exaggerated opposed attitudes and types of behavior and using them as 'barriers'.
07. displacement: discharging pent-up feelings, usually hostility, on objects less dangerous than those which initially aroused the emotion.
08. emotional insulation: reducing ego involvement and withdrawing into passivity to protect self from hurt.
09. intellectualization: cutting off affective charge from hurtful situations or separating incompatible attitudes by logic-tight compartments.
10. undoing: atoning for and thus counteracting immoral desires or acts.
11. regression: retreating to earlier developmental level involving less mature responses and usually a lower level of aspiration.
12. identification: increasing feelings of worth by identifying self with person or institution of illustrious standing.
13. introjection: incorporating external values and standards into ego structure so individual is not at their mercy as external threats.
14. compensation: covering up weakness by emphasizing desirable trait or making up for frustration in one area by over-gratification in another.

(anna freud)

some typical ‘excuses’ that alcoholics or addicts tend to make. you can substitute your brand of addiction instead of alcohol/drug.

15. rationalizing - i don't drink/use every day, i don't have a problem.
16. minimizing - i don't drink/use half of what sam drinks.
17. cockiness - i got it made, these other folks are losers.
18. justifying - if you had a wife/husband like mine, you would drink/use too.
19. projecting - you always manipulate to get what you want.
20. blaming - you drove me to drink/use. It is my job stress.
21. humor - this isn't serious. life is a joke.
22. intellectualizing - research shows i'm probably not an alcoholic/addict.
23. lying - i only had a couple of beers, maybe three.
24. manipulation - if you quit bitching, i'll quit drinking/using.
25. accusing - your fooling around keeps me drinking/using.
26. threatening - get off my back or you will be sorry!
27. judging - if you did this or that right, things wouldn't be so bad.
28. explaining - oh, i drink/use because i.....
29. analyzing - i started drinking more because of ...., it will slow down later.
30. arguing - i'm not an alcoholic, i've never gotten a dwi or.....
31. defiance - i dare you to prove that i'm an alcoholic/addict.
32. withdrawing - if i don't do or say anything, they will leave me alone.
33. shouting - leave me alone, i don't want to talk about it!
34. silence -
35. smiling - just laugh it off. nervous smile.
36. compliance - i just do and say what they want.

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04/03/2010

ego defense and mechanism


a number of phenomena are used to aid in the maintenance of repression. these are termed ego defense mechanisms (the terms “mental mechanisms” and “defense mechanisms” are essentially synonymous with this).

the primary functions of these mechanisms are:

1. to minimize anxiety
2. to protect the ego
3. to maintain repression

repression is useful to the individual since:

1. it prevents discomfort
2. it leads to some economy of time and effort

ego d
efense mechanisms include:

01. acting out: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by actions rather than reflections or feelings. this definition is broader than the original concept of the acting out of transference feelings or wishes during psychotherapy and is intended to include behavior arising both within and outside the transference relationship. defensive acting out is not synonymous with “bad behavior” because it requires evidence that the behavior is related to emotional conflicts.
02. affiliation: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by turning to others for help or support. this involves sharing problems with others but does not imply trying to make someone else responsible for them.
03. aim inhibition: placing a limitation upon instinctual demands; accepting partial or modified fulfillment of desires. examples: (1) a person is conscious of sexual desire but if finding it frustrating, "decides" that all that is really wanted in the relationship is companionship. (2) a student who originally wanted to be a physician decides to become a physician's assistant. aim inhibition, like the other mechanisms, is neither healthful nor pathological, desirable nor undesirable, in itself. it may be better to have half a loaf than no bread, but an unnecessary aim inhibition may rob one of otherwise attainable satisfactions. note that the first example could include the mechanism of displacement, and the second, rationalization. up to a point, mutual idealization can make for a happy relationship; however, unrealistic expectations of another person based upon this mechanism can lead to serious disappointment.
04. altruism: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by dedication to meeting the needs of others. unlike the self-sacrifice sometimes characteristic of reaction formation, the individual receives gratification either vicariously or from the response of others.
05. anticipation: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by experiencing emotional reactions in advance of, or anticipating consequences of, possible future events and considering realistic, alternative responses or solutions.
06. autistic fantasy: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by excessive daydreaming as a substitute for human relationships, more effective action, or problem solving.
07. avoidance: a defense mechanism consisting of refusal to encounter situations, objects, or activities because they represent unconscious sexual or aggressive impulses and/or punishment for those impulses; avoidance, according to the dynamic theory, is a major defense mechanism in phobias. [symbolization] [displacement]
08. compensation: encountering failure or frustration in some sphere of activity, one overemphasizes another. the term is also applied to the process of over-correcting for a handicap or limitation. examples: (1) a physically unattractive adolescent becomes an expert dancer. (2) a youth with residual muscle damage from poliomyelitis becomes an athlete. (3) demosthenes.
09. conversion: conflicts are presented by physical symptoms involving portions of the body innervated by sensory or motor nerves. this mechanism and somatization are the only ones that are always pathological. examples: a man's arm becomes paralyzed after impulses to strike another (2) regular heavy drinking limited to weekends; (3) long periods of sobriety interspersed with binges of daily heavy drinking lasting for weeks or months. [somatization]
10. deflection: also detected when the individual is in group therapy and consists of redirecting attention to another group member.
11. denial: failing to recognize obvious implications or consequences of a thought, act, or situation. examples: (1) a person having an extramarital affair gives no thought to the possibility of pregnancy. (2) persons living near a volcano disregard the dangers involved. (3) a disabled person plans to return to former activities without planning a realistic program of rehabilitation. [repression]
12. devaluation: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by attributing exaggerated negative qualities to self or others. [idealization]
13. displacement: a change in the object by which an instinctual drive is to be satisfied; shifting the emotional component from one object or idea to another. examples: (1) a woman is abandoned by her fiance’; she quickly finds another man about whom she develops the same feelings; (2) a salesman is angered by his superior but suppresses his anger; later, on return to his home, he punishes one of his children for misbehavior that would usually be tolerated or ignored. displacements are often quite satisfactory and workable mechanisms; if one cannot have steak, it is comforting to like hamburger equally well. as the march hare observed, "i like what i have is the same as i have what i like." however, the example of displaced anger illustrates a situation which, if often repeated, could cause serious complications in the person’s life. conscious acceptance of a substitute with full recognition that it is a substitute for something one wants is an analog of displacement. [avoidance] [symbolization]
14. dissociation: splitting-off a group of thoughts or activities from the main portion of consciousness; compartmentalization. example: a politician works vigorously for integrity in government, but at the same time engages in a business venture involving a conflict of interest without being consciously hypocritical and seeing no connection between the two activities. some dissociation is helpful in keeping one portion of one's life from interfering with another (e.g., not bringing problems home from the office). however, dissociation is responsible for some symptoms of mental illness; it occurs in "hysteria" (certain somatoform and dissociative disorders) and schizophrenia, the dissociation of hysteria involves a large segment of the consciousness while that in schizophrenia is of numerous small portions. the apparent splitting of affect from content often noted in schizophrenia is usually spoken of as dissociation of affect, though isolation might be a better term.
15. fixation: the cessation of the process of development of the personality at a stage short of complete and uniform mature independence is known as fixation. [regression]
16. help-rejecting complaining: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by complaining or making repetitious requests for help that disguise covert feelings or hostility or reproach toward others, which are then expressed by rejecting the suggestions, advice, or help that others offer. the complaints or requests may involve physical or psychological symptoms or life problems.
17. humor: the individual deals with emotional conflict or external stressors by emphasizing the amusing or ironic aspects of the conflict or stressors.
18. idealization: overestimation of the desirable qualities and underestimation of the limitations of a desired object. examples: (1) a lover speaks in glowing terms of the beauty and intelligence of an average-looking woman who is not very bright. (2) a purchaser, having finally decided between two items, expounds upon the advantages of the one chosen. [devaluation]
19. identification: similar to introjection, but of less intensity and completeness. the unconscious modeling of one's self upon another person. one may also identify with values and attitudes of a group. examples: (1) without being aware that he is copying his teacher, a resident physician assumes a similar mode of dress and manner with patients. (2) a school girl wants her mother to buy her the same kind of shoes her classmates are wearing; she angrily rejects the idea that she is trying to be like the other girls and insists that the shoes are truly the best available and are the style she has always wanted. conscious analogs of identification are intentional imitation of others and volitional efforts to conform to a group. [incorporation] [introjection]
20. incorporation: the assimilation of the object into one's own ego and/or superego. this is one of the earliest mechanisms utilized. the parent becomes almost literally a part of the child. parental values, preferences, and attitudes are acquired. [introjection] [identification]
21. intellectualization: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by the excessive use of abstract thinking or the making of generalizations to control or minimize disturbing feelings.
22. introjection: the process of assimilation of the picture of an object (as the individual conceives the object to be). example: when a person becomes depressed due to the loss of a loved one, his feelings are directed to the mental image he possesses of the loved one. [identification] [incorporation]
23. isolation: the splitting-off of the emotional components from a thought. example: a medical student dissects a cadaver without being disturbed by thoughts of death. isolation may be temporary (affect postponement). example: a bank teller appears calm and cool while frustrating a robbery but afterward is tearful and tremulous. the mechanism of isolation is commonly over utilized by obsessive compulsives.
24. omnipotence: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by feeling or acting as if he or she possesses special powers or abilities and is superior to others.
25. passive aggression: the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by indirectly and unassertively expressing aggression toward others. there is a facade of overt compliance masking covert resistance, resentment, or hostility. passive aggression often occurs in response to demands for independent action or performance or the lack of gratification of dependent wishes but may be adaptive for individuals in subordinate positions who have no other way to express assertiveness more avertly.
26. projection: attributing one's thoughts or impulses to another person. in common use, this is limited to unacceptable or undesirable impulses. examples: (1) a man, unable to accept that he has competitive or hostile feelings about an acquaintance, says, “he doesn’t like me.” (2) a woman, denying to herself that she has sexual feelings about a co-worker, accuses him, without basis, of flirt and described him as a “wolf.” this defense mechanism is commonly over utilized by the paranoid. a broader definition of projection includes certain operations that allow for empathy and understanding of others. recognition that another person is lonely or sad may be based not upon having seen other examples of loneliness or sadness and learning the outward manifestations but upon having experienced the feelings and recognizing automatically that another person’s situation would evoke them. [projective identification]
27. projective identification: as in projection, the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by falsely attributing to another his or her own unacceptable feelings, impulses, or thoughts. unlike simple projection, the individual does not fully disavow what is projected. instead, the individual remains aware of his or her own affects or impulses but mis-attributes them as justifiable reactions to the other person. not infrequently, the individual induces the very feelings in others that were first mistakenly believed to be there, making it difficult to clarify who did what to whom first. [projection]
28. rationalization: offering a socially acceptable and apparently more or less logical explanation for an act or decision actually produced by unconscious impulses. the person rationalizing is not intentionally inventing a story to fool someone else, but instead is misleading self as well as the listener. examples: (1) a man buys a new car, having convinced himself that his older car won't make it through the winter. (2) a woman with a closet full of dresses buys a new one because she doesn't have anything to wear.
29. reaction formation: going to the opposite extreme; overcompensation for unacceptable impulses. examples: (1) a man violently dislikes an employee; without being aware of doing so, he "bends over backwards" to not criticize the employee and gives him special privileges and advances. (2) a person with strong antisocial impulses leads a crusade against vice. (3) a married woman who is disturbed by feeling attracted to one of her husband's friends treats him rudely. intentional efforts to compensate for conscious dislikes and prejudices are sometimes analogous to this mechanism. [undoing] [restitution]
30. regression: by another anxiety-evading mechanism known as regression, the personality may suffer a loss of some of the development already attained and may revert to a lower level of adaptation and expression. [fixation]
31. repression: the involuntary exclusion of a painful or conflictual thought, impulse, or memory from awareness. this is the primary ego defense mechanism; others reinforce it.
32. resistance: this defense mechanism produces a deep-seated opposition to the bringing of repressed (unconscious) data to awareness. through its operation, the individual seeks to avoid memories or insights which would arouse anxiety.
33. restitution: the mechanism of relieving the mind of a load of guilt by making up or reparation (paying up with interest). [reaction formation] [undoing]
34. self-assertion: the individual deals with emotional conflict or stressors by expressing his or her feelings and thoughts directly in a way that is not coercive or manipulative.
35. somatization: conflicts are represented by physical symptoms involving parts of the body innervated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. example: a highly competitive and aggressive person, whose life situation requires that such behavior be restricted, develops hypertension. [conversion]
36. splitting: this term is widely used today to explain the coexistence within the ego of contradictory states, representative of self and others, as well as attitudes to self and others; other individuals or the self is perceived as "all good or all bad.
37. sublimation: attenuating the force of an instinctual drive by using the energy in other, usually constructive activities. this definition implies acceptance of the libido theory; the examples do not require it. sublimation is often combined with other mechanisms, among them aim inhibition, displacement, and symbolization. examples: (1) a man who is dissatisfied with his sex life but who has not stepped out on his wife becomes very busy repairing his house while his wife is out of town. thus, he has no time for social activities. (2) a woman is forced to undertake a restrictive diet; she becomes interested in painting and does a number of still life pictures, most of which include fruit. the conscious use of work or hobbies to divert one’s thoughts from a problem or from a rejected wish is an analog of this. sublimation is often a desirable mechanism. however, the consequences may, in addition to preventing instinctual satisfaction, interfere with the person's life in other ways if disproportionate time, money, or effort is used in the activity.
38. substitution: through this defense mechanism, the individual secures alternative or substitutive gratification comparable to those that would have been employed had frustration not occurred.
39. suppression: usually fisted as an ego defense mechanism but actually the conscious analog of repression; intentional exclusion of material from consciousness. at times, suppression may lead to subsequent repression. examples: (1) a young man at work finds that he is letting thoughts about a date that evening interfere with his duties; he decides not to think about plans for the evening until he leaves work. (2) a student goes on vacation worried that she may be failing; she decides not to spoil her holiday by thinking of school. (3) a woman makes an embarrassing faux pas at a party; she makes an effort to forget all about it. in the first example, suppression was probably a desirable mechanism since it permitted concentration on work and deferred dealing with plans for the evening until a more appropriate time. in the second instance, suppression would have been undesirable if failing work could have been corrected during vacation or if a realistic appraisal of probable consequences of the school situation would have permitted battery planning.
40. symbolization: an object or act represents a complex group of objects and acts, some of which may be conflictual or unacceptable to the ego; objects or acts stand for a repressed desire. examples: (1) a soldier, when asked why he volunteered, he said, "to defend the flag." he rejects as irrelevant a question about the purpose of the war. (2) a boy asks for a girl's hand (in marriage). as in the second illustration, symbolization is often combined with displacement. it is one of the mechanisms usually involved in phobias. [avoidance] [displacement]
41. undoing: an act or communication which partially negates a previous one. examples: (1) two close friends have a violent argument; when they next meet, each act as if the disagreement had never occurred. (2) when asked to recommend a friend for a job, a man makes derogatory comments which prevent the friend's getting the position; a few days later, the man drops in to see his friend and brings him a small gift. in a conscious analog of this, napoleon made it a practice after reprimanding any officer to find some words of praise to say at their next meeting. [reaction formation] [restitution]

Labels:

03/03/2010

categories of defense mechanisms


it’s important to understand right from the beginning that not all defense mechanisms are “bad” or unhealthy. some defense mechanisms allow for self-protection while maintaining a full awareness of the thoughts and feelings involved in dealing with the challenge facing you.

healthy defenses to cope with problems on a adult manner

01. affiliation. you seek out others for emotional support or physical help.
02. altruism. dealing with emotional stressors by dedication to meeting the need of others. you do good and kind things for others, rather than worry about your own immediate satisfaction or fears.
03. anticipation. you think ahead to events that might occur in the future and consider realistic responses or solutions.
04. concentration. selective awareness in time (opposite to denial).
05. empathy. selective sensitivity. being aware of your own feelings (opposite to projection).
06. humor. you notice the amusing or ironic aspects of something. some persons, however, use humor to hide aggressive impulses. it might seem that they are always good-natured and happy, but if you listen closely you can hear them ending every sentence with a “ha-ha-ha” sort of giggle. this in effect tells the listener, “i’m really frightened of conflict, so please don’t take seriously anything i say, lest you be offended by it and want to challenge me”.
07. identification. as a normal childhood developmental process of taking in of experience symbolically in order to identify with other persons (especially parents), this is often called introjection.
08. introjection. as a normal childhood developmental process of taking in of experience symbolically in order to identify with other persons (especially parents),
09. logical analysis. by means-end symbolization (opposite to rationalization).
10. objectivity. as a mechanism for discrimination, looking for the whole truth and analyzing total reality (opposite to dissociation).
11. playfulness. a time reversal process for safe learning and exploring possibilities as in role-playing.
12. self-assertion. You act toward others in a way that is emotionally genuine and
honest and that is not coercive or manipulative.
13. self-observation. you reflect upon and consider your
emotions and thoughts, so as to act responsibly.
14. sublimation. you direct socially harmful impulses into socially acceptable forms of behaviour or you redirect the feeling into a socially productive activity.
15. substitution. a form of displacement to redirect feelings into socially acceptable forms.
16. suppression. you avoid thinking about disturbing experiences or feelings. restraining impulses (opposite to repression). done in moderation, and in the proper circumstances, this can be healthy and protective. but in excess it becomes avoidance, one of the characteristic qualities of
post-traumatic stress disorder.

inhibitory defenses this sort of defensive functioning serves to keep threatening thoughts, feelings, memories, wishes, or fears out of conscious awareness.

01. aggression. identified in assault and destruction. direct aggression targets the source of the threat. indirect aggression shades into the mechanism of displacement.
02. aggressive humor. I am really frightened of conflict, so don’t take seriously anything I say, lest you be offended by it and want to challenge me.
03. compulsive movements. blepharo-spasm, blinking, gestures, mannerisms, rituals and tics. isolation and/or dissociation of (involuntary) movements.
04. displacement. when a person redirects his feelings on to someone else. you transfer your feelings about one object to another, less threatening object. for example, a man angry at his boss comes home and yells at his children.
05. dissociative amnesia. partial memory loss hidden by repressive mechanism. motives anxiety or guilt.
06. dissociation. you separate yourself from reality by a breakdown of normal conscious functions of memory or identity. for example, in a car crash you don’t feel like you’re experiencing it yourself, or you don’t feel like you’re experiencing it in your body, or you develop amnesia about the final moments of the crash.
07.
identification with the aggressor. identification as a defensive function.
08. indirect aggression. shades into the displacement mechanism of the impulse diversion.
09. intellectualization. you focus on abstract logic or philosophy and minimize feelings about an event. for example, after an earthquake damages your home, you talk to others primarily about the structural engineering factors of the damage.
10. isolation. when a person is unable to experience the thought and feeling together of an experience. his feelings remain hidden.
11. isolation of affect. you remain aware of the descriptive details of an event but lose connection with the feelings about the event itself.
12. reaction formation. your behaviors, thoughts, or feelings are the complete opposite of your actual (unconscious) desires. for example, you dislike your job and yet you tell everyone how wonderful it is.
13. repression. you lose all conscious
memory of an event, in contrast to dissociative amnesia in which selective elements of an event are “forgotten.” also, in repression you may retain certain emotional components of the event even though you have no memory of the event. for example, a woman who as a child was sexually abused by her father may feel anxious and uneasy whenever finding herself alone in a room with an older man, even though she cannot remember the childhood abuse itself. (note, however, that this emotional component in itself does not prove that abuse once happened, because the woman’s anxiety could have other, unconscious causes.)
14. somatization. when a person became preoccupied with his health.
15. total amnesia. the memory is hidden by repressive mechanisms. motives anxiety or guilt.
16. transference. a displacement of esteem away from appropriate objects to the analist, and occasionally to the patient’s self.
17. undoing. you use symbolic means to negate or make amends for unacceptable thoughts or feelings. for example, you repetitively wash your hands as an unconscious gesture of “washing away” the guilt of feeling angry at someone you depend upon.

defenses involving disavowal this sort of defensive functioning serves to keep unpleasant or unacceptable thoughts or feelings out of conscious awareness.


01. denial. you refuse to acknowledge what is readily apparent to others. when you’re in denial, the truth is your enemy and your accuser.
02. projection. you falsely attribute to others your own unacceptable feelings. for example, a woman complains that a friend is insulting her because he hates women, when actually she harbours a secret hatred for men because she was sexually abused as a child.
03. rationalization. you conceal your true motives by making incorrect, self-serving explanations. for example, a parent beats a child, saying that it is not abuse because “that’s how my father disciplined me”.
04. self-deception. two forms denial and disguise (all other defens mechanisms).

distorting defenses (minor) this sort of defensive functioning serves to distort images of self or body or others in order to regulate self-esteem.

01. compensation. faced with feelings of inadequacy or incompetence the subject seeks to excel in some other arena.
02. devaluation. you tell yourself that something desirable but immediately unattainable is somehow defective. for example, the fox in aesop’s fable tells himself that the grapes out of his reach are probably sour. hence the expression “sour grapes.”
03. idealization. you attribute exaggerated positive qualities to an other.
04. omnipotence. you feel or act as if you possessed special powers or abilities superior to others. for example, a child left alone in the house every day after school by working parents fantasizes that he is a comic book superhero.

distorting defenses (major) this sort of defensive functioning involves gross distortion in images of self or others.

01. autistic fantasy. you withdraw into excessive daydreaming rather than take effective action.
02. fantasy. escape into a dreamworld is an immature response, but may be a safe strategy for coping in the form of a role-play.
03. over-identification. the subject fails to differentiate positive and negative aspects of the role-model’s character. even in the most positive role-model in that it substitutes for real personal growth.
04. projective identification. as in projection, you falsely attribute to others your own unacceptable feelings, but here you remain aware of the feelings yet believe they are justifiable reactions to another person. for example, you feel angry that you have been assigned to work on a project, but instead of recognizing your resentment, you start to feel angry with a co-worker, believing that she lacks commitment to the project.
04. self-fulfilling prophecy. continuous projective identification. for example, an insecure and jealous person who is intensely afraid of abandonment can so often impute feelings of infidelity into others that they eventually get sick of such suspicion and criticism and end up actually abandoning him or her.
05. splitting. you see everything as either all good or all bad, sometimes alternating between the two in regard to one person.

defenses involving action or withdrawal this sort of defensive functioning involves action or withdrawal.

01. acting out. you use physical actions instead of dealing with challenges directly by reflecting on and speaking about your feelings. for example, a man has an extramarital affair because he cannot verbalize his feelings of frustration or helplessness within the marriage.
02. apathetic withdrawal. you simply withdraw from interaction with the world rather than deal with its assaults and challenges.
03. avoidance. or suppression in excess. one of the characteristics of post-traumatic stress disorder.
04. help-rejecting complaining. you make a show of asking for help, yet because of hidden feelings of hostility you reject all help or advice that is offered. for example, a woman suffering from bereavement begins to lose weight. a neighbor brings some yogurt, and the woman complains that she only eats goat’s milk yogurt. a physician prescribes medication, and the woman stops taking it because she doesn’t like the way it makes her feel. a psychologist offers psychotherapy and she complains that the office is too far away. and so on.
05. passive aggression. you present a façade of compliance, yet, because of hidden resentment, something always happens - you get sick, the bus is late, your car breaks down, etc. - so that you ultimately obstruct, rather than complete, the task. for example, “wait a minute,” you say. “It’s not my fault that the bus was late.” well, that may be true in some circumstances, but we’re talking here about things - one thing or another - that happen over and over again to frustrate the plans of someone else. it could be very possible that you “knew” unconsciously just how much of a delay it would take to miss that bus, and you “knew” that you could be late. thus, rather than catching the bus before the bus that will get you there on time, so as to guarantee not being late, you ignore the warning signs, “knowing” what will happen. it may sound weird, but as is often said, “life is stranger than fiction.”
06. primitivation. falling back on a more primitive state of development.
07. regression. returning to a previous state of development.
08. retrogression. falling back on a state already experienced in the past.
09. withdrawal. the most extreme of defense mechanisms beyond regression. depression sufferers are particular prone to withdrawal, almost a hallmark of the disorder. “burning bridges” right up to suicide.


Labels:

02/03/2010

psychology and defense mechanisms


what are psychological defense mechanisms?

they are psychological strategies used individuals (and by extension groups of indidivuals and even entire nations at times) to cope with reality and to maintain his/her self -image intact. a healthy person will use many different defenses throughout life. a defense mechanism becomes pathological when it is used persistantly and leads to maladaptive behavior that will eventually threaten the physical and/or mental health of the individual.

psychological defenses that are:

1. almost always pathological
when they prevent the individual from being able to cope with a real threat and obscure his/her ability to perceive reality
2. immature
used in childhood and adolescence, but mostly abandoned by adulthood, since they lead to socially unacceptable behavior and/or prevent the adult from optimal coping with reality
3. neurotic
common in everyone, but clearly not optimal for coping with reality since they lead to problems in relationships; work; and problems in enjoying life; and finally
4. mature defense mechanisms
used by "healthy" adults, they optimize one's ability to have normal relationships; enjoy work, and to take pleasure in life.let's look at these different types of defense mechanisms, which as you see above ihave listed in a hierarchy from least effective to most effective. the defenses i have selected to discuss are the most typical, and are frequently discussed in the psychiatric and psychological literature

level 1 defense mechanisms

almost always pathological. for the user these three defenses permit someone to rearrange external reality (and therefore not have to cope with reality). for the beholder, the users of these mechanisms frequently appear crazy or insane. these are the "psychotic" defenses, common in overt psychosis, in dreams, and throughout childhood. they include:

1. denial
a refusal to accept external reality because it is too threatening. there are examples of denial being adaptive. for example, it might be adaptive for a person who is dying to have some denial
2. distortion
a gross reshaping of external reality to meet internal needs
3. delusional projection
frank delusions about external reality, usually of a persecutory nature

level 2 defense mechanisms

are seen frequently in adults and are common in adolescents. for the user these mechanism alter distress and anxiety caused by reality or other people. while for the beholder, people who use such defenses are seen as socially undesirable, immature, difficult and out of touch. they are considered "immature" defenses and almost always lead to serious problems in a person's ability to cope with the world. these defenses are seen in severe depression, personality disorders, and adolescence. they include:

1. fantasy
tendency to retreat into fantasy in order to resolve inner and outer conflicts
2. projection
attributing one's own unacknowledged feelings to others; includes severe prejudice, severe jealousy, hypervigilance to external danger, and "injustice collecting" (remember that projection is a primitive form of paranoia, so it is common in today's world)
3. hypochondriasis
the transformation of negative feelings towards others into negative feelings toward self, pain, illness and anxiety
4. passive agressive behavior
aggression towards others expressed indirectly or passively
5. acting out behavior
direct expression of an unconscious wish or impulse to avoid being conscious of the emotion that accompanies it

level 3 defense mechanisms

are often considered "neurotic" but are fairly common in adults. they can have short-term advantages in coping, but they often cause long-term problems in relationships, work, and enjoyment of life for people who primarily use them as their basic style of coping with the world. they include:

1. intellectualization
separation of emotion from ideas. thinking about wishes in formal, affectively bland terms and not acting on them
2. repression
seemingly inexplicable naivete, memory lapse, or lack of awareness of physical status. the emotion is conscious, but the idea behind it is absent
3. reaction formation
behavior that is completely the opposite of what one really wants or feels (e.g, taking care of someone when what one really wants is to be taken care of; studying to be a pilot to cover-up being afraid to fly). note - this can work in the short term as an effective strategy to cope, but will eventually break down
4. displacement
separation of emotion from its real object and redirection of the intense emotion toward someone or something that is less offensive or threatening in order to avoid dealing directly with what is frightening or threatening
5. dissociation
temporary and drastic modification of one's personal identity or character to avoid emotional distress

level 4 defense mechanisms

are common among most "healthy" adults and are considered the most "mature". many of them have their origins in the "immature" level, but have been honed by the individual to optimize his/her success in life and relationships. use of these defenses gives the user pleasure and feelings of mastery. for the user, these defenses help them to integrate many conflicting emotions and thoughts and still be effective; and for the beholder their use by someone is viewed as a virtue. they include:

1. sublimation
transformation of negative emotions or instincts into positive actions, behavior, or emotion
2. altruism
constructive service to others that brings pleasure and personal satisfaction
3. suppression
the conscious decision to delay paying attention to an emotion or need in order to cope with the present reality; able to later access the emotion and accept it
4. anticipation
realistic planning for future discomfort
5. humor
overt expression of ideas and feelings (especially those that are unpleasant to focus on or too terrible to talk about) that gives pleasure to others; (humor lets you call a spade a spade, while "
wit" is actually a form of displacement)

since all of these defense mechanisms can be used by adults to adapt to life, the question is: when is a defense mechanism considered really "adaptive" and when is it considered "pathological"?

what we call "mental illness" is actually a manifestation of an individual's pathological adaptive resposne to events in his/her life.

here is what makes a defense "pathological":

1. the defense is used in a rigid, inflexible, and exclusive manner
2. the motivation for using the defense comes more from past needs than present or future reality
3. the defense severely distorts the present situation
4. use of the defense leads to significant problems in relationships, functioning, and enjoyment of life
5. use of the defense impedes or distorts emotions and feelings, instead of rechanneling them effectively

research has shown that use of the "mature defenses" (level 4) is related to:

1. excellent adjustment as an adult
2. happiness (by self-report)
3. job satisfaction
4. rich friendships
5. fewer hospitalizations over life
6. better overall health
7. a lower incidence of mental illness

use of the "immature defenses" (levels 1, 2, 3) is related to:

1. poor adjustment as an adult
2. higher divorce rates and marital discord
3. poor friendship patterns
4. higher incidence of mental illness
5. greater number of sick leave days taken
6. poorer health generally

defense mechanisms are not limited to individuals. societies also sometimes need to protect their self-images and cope with events in the world. they need to explain why their society is failing. why they are not as important in the world as they feel they should be, etc. why the ideologies they embrace aren't successful.

societies, like individuals, can adopt mature defenses and deal with reality. or they can deny reality and look elsewhere for the source of their problems. many countries, like individuals, prefer to put the blame for their own failures onto an outside source, since that is safer for the self-image. a "healthy" country, like a healthy individual will evaluate the facts and utilize mature defenses to cope with and change the situation they find themselves in. they are not afraid of their aggressive impulses because those impulses are reigned in by reason and not indulged in lightly. when necessary, healthy societies look inward. when necessary, they focus outward.

Labels:

01/03/2010

defense mechanisms intro


quality of self-deception,
two chief forms denial and disguise
denial of impulses, memories or actions

1. amnesia
the memory is hidden by repressive mechanisms
motives anxiety or guilt

disguise = the second form of self-deception
motives + to maintain or enhance self-esteem
motives – escape or defend against anxiety

2. rationalizationliking or disliking as an excuse
blaming circumstances and other people
necessity as an excuse


3. projectionprotect ourselves from undesirable qualities
projection is really a form of rationalization

4. reaction-formation
overprotection, overindulgence
anti-activities

5. dissociation
a. compulsive movements
mannerisms, gestures, tics, rituals, blepharo-spasm, blinking
b. excessive theorizing, intellectualization
as a substitute for action

6. repression
a. amnesia repression vs suppression
b. indirect expression symbolism

7. substitution
a. sublimation
b. compensation and overcompensation

(8) displacement = indirect aggression
scapegoating (zondebok)
prejudice against minority groups

(9) regression
a. retrogression
b. primitivation


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