More about Freud!Defense Mechanisms

PsychologyMs. Rebecca

Review:

Answer the following questions:What is Psychoanalytic Theory?

Who is Freud and what does he say are the 3 parts of personality? What does each part do?

Psychoanalytic theory

Says we are influenced by forces beneath our conscious: (in our unconscious)

Stages of Personality

ID EGO SUPEREGO

Today

We are going to learn about another one of Freud’s ideas about personality: Defense Mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms

Are the methods the ego uses to avoid facing emotions or ideas that cause pain or stress. (Goal 4 of Psychology!)

Defense Mechanisms, like the id, ego and superego operates beneath our conscious.

What are they?

Repression Rationalization Displacement Regression Projection Reaction Formation Denial Sublimation

1. Repression

Pushes painful or stressful ideas into the subconscious.

Like a tea-kettle holds in steam, people hold in their urges.

http://images.google.co.th/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=hold+your+breath

Problem with repression

When steam builds up, the tea-kettle pops it’s lid.

When people let their emotions and urges build up inside of them they eventually explode through outbursts of anger and maybe developing other psychological and emotional problems.

2. Rationalization Distorts unacceptable ideas and

behaviors to justify them. Makes excuses to try to make it seem like unacceptable behavior is ok.

Example of Rationalization

A student who cheats on a test may say:

“I only cheated on a few questions, I knew most of the answers!”

http://www.borg.com/~rjgtoons/images/ed11.gif

3. Displacement

To transfer an impulse or idea from a threatening object to a LESS threatening object. Example: If you are yelled at by your boss you can’t yell back you’ll get fired!

So, you go home and yell at your loved ones!

http://www.clipartof.com/images/thumbnail/930.jpg

So, you go home and yell at your loved ones!

Works for dad!

http://www.greenberg-art.com/.Illustrations/.Humorous/qq1sgYellingAtKids.jpg

4. Regression

When someone is under a lot of stress, they return to behavior from an earlier stage of development.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/89190904_6a725fd03e.jpg?v=0

Example of Regression

Someone who gets divorced may become clingy to parents again like they were as a child.

5. Projection

People deal with unacceptable impulses by acting as if OTHER people have them.

They see their own faults in other people.

http://stanleybronstein.com/blog/blame.jpg

6. Reaction Formation

People act the opposite of how they really feel.

http://www.arcticnunavut.ca/images/Opposites

Example of Reaction Formation

Acting like you hate someone you really have a crush on.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mba/lowres/mban2023l.jpg

7. Denial

A person refuses to accept the reality of anything that is bad.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb44/spadum/de-motivational%20posters/denial.jpg

Example of Denial

People think that they won’t get sick and die from smoking because they are in denial.

http://thecia.com.au/reviews/t/images/thank-you-for-smoking-poster-0.jpg

8. Sublimation

When people channel impulses into socially acceptable behavior.

Example: Someone who is aggressive…

Can channel their aggression into playing sports

http://www.sportsciencepress.com/images/sports-psychology-3-350.jpg

Effects of Defense Mechanisms

Using defense mechanisms can be normal to protect people from painful feelings. BUT…..

Defense Mechanisms can be unhealthy…

If the lead people to ignore the issues that cause feelings of pain.

According to Freud, If you have a healthy ego, you should be able to balance the ID and Superego without using defense mechanisms

Final thoughts about Freud

Today concepts like the ID and Oedipus Complex are considered unscientific but Freud’s work was very important to Psychology.

Why?

1. Freud helped to develop compassion for those with Psychological disorders.

In the past, people were just dismissed as being “crazy” but after Freud’s research more people realized that psychological problems weren’t just weaknesses.

2. Introduced idea that childhood influences adulthood

Importance of recognizing emotional needs of children.

This inspired others to continue the research Freud started.

Homework:

Do Defense Mechanisms Packet Make picture notecards of the following terms: Repression Rationalization Displacement Regression Projection Reaction Formation Denial Sublimation