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Ego defense mechanisms - Coggle Diagram
Ego defense mechanisms
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Acting Out
Putting into action our irrational desires that might be unproductive. The emotions are like a runaway train here
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Altruism
Acting in a positive way with a purpose to be liked by others. Satisfying internal needs through helping others
Avoidance
Avoiding a negative event in order not to feel anxious. Short term. Deals with an effect but not the cause of anxiety. Works as winning time.
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Denial
Not agreeing with smth to avoid damage to the ego caused by the anxiety or guilt of accepting certain feelings. Acceptance here is too uncomfortable to face.
Displacement
Displacing negative or socially inappropriate feelings unto another object/person different from the object of feelings. The object is chosen by the criteria of being less threatening.
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Fantasy
As a way for escaping reality if it's too stressful. Helps to think of a better outcome and new opportunities but can also create an unreal world with broken expectations.
Humor
A primarily adaptive technique to help us to cope with tense or stressful situations. Discharges the negative emotions caused by an unpleasant event.
Humility
lowering our expectations and view of our self importance, sacrificing our pride and often focusing on others
Idealization
creating an ideal impression of a person, place or object by emphasizing their positive qualities and neglecting the negative ones
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Intellectualization
Attempts to find a rational reason towards a certain idea or action. Cold calculations of the intelligence if the mind is overwhelmed by smth.
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Isolation
Separation of ideas or feelings from the rest of the thoughts. Works for separating work life and leisure time.
Passive Aggression
Occurs when one form of stimuli creates an internal distress but is expressed in a passive anger to wards others to release the anxiety.
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Rationalization
When a person attempts to explain or create excuses for an event or action in rational terms. Occurs in order to avoid accepting the real cause of the situation.
Reaction Formation
Occurs when one is feeling socially inappropriate emotions. Used to hide true feelings by behaving in the exact opposite manner. Leads to feeling of the opposite emotion that the initial one.
Repression
Our actions are restricted by our environment, including social etiquette. When too much guilt is about to capture the mind, the repression comes into action by moving the cause of guilt into the unconscious part of the psyche. Deals with an effect and has an impact on our later behavior.
Regression
When a person reverts to the types of behavior that they exhibited at an earlier age. Often is related with avoiding the responsibilities of adult life.
Self Serving Bias
Prejudice towards our own self even if objectively wrong in something. Irrational attempts to defend one's own position. External locus control.
Social Comparison
Comparing oneself with others to seem better in our own point of view. Or putting oneself on the same level as someone else who is considered important. A play of Ahankar.
Splitting
Seeing the world in polar terms (white or black, right or wrong). In some forms feeling prejudice towards one party and a complete rejection of its opposite one.
Sublimation
Transforming negative energy into positive. When desires arise but not fulfilled they are transformed into something positive thru sublimation.
Somatization
When the internal conflicts between the drives of the id, ego and super ego take on physical characteristics. Linked to psychosomatics. Leads to asking for medical help.
Suppression
Occurs consciously in the form of suppressing thoughts and emotions. Comes into action in order to get distracted from the object of anxiety.
Undoing
Trying to undo the past action that had brought current anxiety. As a form of trying to behave in a more positive way or to apologize for what is already done
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Defense mechanisms are thought to safeguard the psyche against feelings and thoughts that are too difficult to cope with.
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