1.

Acting Out
When an inner conflict (most often, frustration) translates into aggression. It
involves acting with little or no insight or reflection and in order to attract attention
and disrupt other people's cosy lives.
2. Denial
Perhaps the most primitive and best known defense mechanism. People simply
ignore unpleasant facts, they filter out data and content that contravene their self-
image, prejudices, and preconceived notions of others and of the world.
3. Devaluation
Attributing negative or inferior traits or qualifiers to self or others. This is done in
order to punish the person devalued and to mitigate his or her impact on and
importance to the devaluer. When the self is devalued, it is a self-defeating and
self-destructive act.
4. Displacement
When we cannot confront the real sources of our frustration, pain, and envy, we
tend to pick a fight with someone weaker or irrelevant and, thus, less menacing.
Children often do it because they perceive conflicts with parents and caregivers
as life-threatening. Instead, they go out and torment the cat or bully someone at
school or lash out at their siblings.
5. Dissociation
Our mental existence is continuous. We maintain a seamless flow of memories,
consciousness, perception, and representation of both inner and external worlds.
When we face horrors and unbearable truths, we sometimes "disengage". We
lose track of space, time, and the continuum of our identity. We become
"someone else" with minimal awareness of our surroundings, of incoming
information, and of circumstances. In extreme cases, some people develop a
permanently rent personality and this is known as "Dissociative Identity Disorder
(DID)".
6. Fantasy
Everyone fantasizes now and then. It helps to fend off the dreariness and
drabness of everyday life and to plan for an uncertain future. But when fantasy
becomes a central feature of grappling with conflict, it is pathological. Seeking
gratification - the satisfaction of drives or desires - mainly by fantasizing is an
unhealthy defense. Narcissists, for instance, often indulge in grandiose fantasies
which are incommensurate with their accomplishments and abilities. Such
fantasy life retards personal growth and development because it substitutes for
true coping.
7. Idealization
Another defense mechanism in the arsenal of the narcissist (and, to lesser
degree, the Borderline and Histrionic) is the attribution of positive, glowing, and
superior traits to self and (more commonly) to others. Again, what differentiates
 the healthy from the pathological is the reality test. Imputing positive
characteristics to self or others is good, but only if the attributed qualities are real
and grounded in a firm grasp of what's true and what's not.
8. Isolation of Affect
Cognition (thoughts, concepts, ideas) is never divorced from emotion. Conflict
can be avoided by separating the cognitive content (for instance, a disturbing or
depressing idea) from its emotional correlate. The subject is fully aware of the
facts or of the intellectual dimensions of a problematic situation but feels numb.
Casting away threatening and discomfiting feelings is a potent way of coping with
conflict in the short-term. It is only when it became habitual that it rendered self-
defeating.

Attempting to avoid a painful thought or feeling by objectifying and emotionally

detaching oneself from the feeling. Example, acting aloof and indifferent toward
someone when you really dislike that person
9. Omnipotence
When one has a pervading sense and image of oneself as incredibly powerful,
superior, irresistible, intelligent, or influential. This is not an adopted affectation
but an ingrained, ineradicable inner conviction which borders on magical thinking.
It is intended to fend off expected hurt in having to acknowledge one's
shortcomings, inadequacies, or limitations.
10. Projection
We all have an image of how we "should be". Freud called it the "Ego Ideal". But
sometimes we experience emotions and drives or have personal qualities which
don't sit well with this idealized construct. Projection is when we attribute to
others these unacceptable, discomfiting, and ill-fitting feelings and traits that we
possess. This way we disown these discordant features and secure the right to
criticize and chastise others for having or displaying them. When entire
collectives (nations, groups, organizations, firms) project, Freud calls it the
Narcissism of Small Differences.
11. Projective Identification
Projection is unconscious. People are rarely aware that they are projecting onto
others their own ego-dystonic and unpleasant characteristics and feelings. But,
sometimes, the projected content is retained in the subject's awareness. This
creates a conflict. On the one hand, the patient cannot admit that the emotions,
traits, reactions, and behaviors that he so condemns in others are really his. On
the other hand, he can't help but being self-aware. He fails to erase from his
consciousness the painful realization that he is merely projecting. So, instead of
denying it, the subject explains unpleasant emotions and unacceptable conduct
as reactions to the recipient's behavior. "She made me do it!" is the battle cry of
projective identification.
 We all have expectations regarding the world and its denizens. Some people
expect to be loved and appreciated - others to be feared and abused. The latter
behave obnoxiously and thus force their nearest and dearest to hate, fear, and
"abuse" them. Thus vindicated, their expectations fulfilled, they calm down. The
world is rendered once more familiar by making other people behave the way
they expect them to. "I knew you would cheat on me! It was clear I couldn't trust
you!".
12. Rationalization
To cast one's behavior after the fact in a favorable light. To justify and explain
one's conduct or, more often, misconduct by resorting to ":rational, logical,
socially-acceptable" explications and excuses. Rationalization is also used to re-
establish ego-syntonic (inner peace and self-acceptance).

Though not strictly a defense mechanism, cognitive dissonance may be

considered a variant of rationalization. It involves speech acts which amount to
the devaluation of things and people very much desired but frustratingly out of
one's reach and control. In a famous fable, a fox, unable to snag the luscious
grapes he covets, says: "these grapes are probably sour anyhow!". This is an
example of cognitive dissonance in action.
13. Reaction Formation
Adopting a position and mode of conduct that defy personally unacceptable
thoughts or impulses by expressing diametrically opposed sentiments and
convictions. Example: a latent (closet) homosexual finds his sexual preference
deplorable and acutely shameful (ego-dystonic). He resorts to homophobia. He
public berates, taunts, and baits homosexuals. Additionally, he may flaunt his
heterosexuality by emphasizing his sexual prowess, or by prowling singles bars
for easy pick-ups and conquests. This way he contains and avoids his
unwelcome homosexuality.
14. Repression
The removal from consciousness of forbidden thoughts and wishes. The
removed content does not vanish and it remains as potent as ever, fermenting in
one's unconscious. It is liable to create inner conflicts and anxiety and provoke
other defense mechanisms to cope with these.
15. Sublimation
The conversion and channeling of unacceptable emotions into socially-condoned
behavior. Freud described how sexual desires and urges are transformed into
creative pursuits or politics.
16. Undoing
Trying to rid oneself of gnawing feelings of guilt by compensating the injured
party either symbolically or actually. Trying to reverse or "undo" a thought or
 feeling by performing an action that signifies an opposite feeling than your
original thought or feeling. Example, you have feelings of dislike for someone so
you buy them a gift
17. Regression
Returning to more primitive levels of behavior in defense against anxiety or
frustration.
18. Displacement
Discharging pent-up feelings, usually of hostility, on objects less dangerous than
those that initially aroused the emotion.
19. Splitting
Everything in the world is seen as all good or all bad with nothing in between.
Example, You think your best friend is absolutely worthless because he forgot a
lunch date with you.
20. Altruism
Handling your own pain by helping others. Example, after your wife dies, you
keep yourself busy by volunteering at your church.
21. Humor
Focusing on funny aspects of a painful situation. Example, a person's treatment
for cancer makes him lose his hair so he makes jokes about being bald.
22. Suppression
The effort to hide and control unacceptable thoughts or feelings you are
attracted to someone but say that you really don't like the person at all.
23. intellectualization
Avoiding unacceptable emotions by focusing on the intellectual aspects, focusing
on the details of a funeral as opposed to the sadness and grief.
24. Introjection
(German: Introjektion) is a psychoanalytical term with a variety of meanings.
Generally, it is regarded as the process where the subject replicates in itself
behaviors, attributes or other fragments of the surrounding world, especially of
other subjects. Cognate concepts are identification, incorporation,[1] and
internalization. To use a simple example, a person who picks up traits from their
friends (e.g., a person who begins frequently exclaiming "Ridiculous!" as a result
of hearing a friend of theirs repeatedly doing the same) is introjecting.
25. Self-harm (SH) or deliberate self-harm (DSH)
Includes self-injury (SI) and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct
injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions. These terms
are used in the more recent literature in an attempt to reach a more neutral
terminology. The older literature especially that which predates the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), almost exclusively
refers to self-mutilation. The term self-harm is synonymous with the term self-
injury.
26. Isolation (German: Isolierung)
Is a defense mechanism in psychoanalytic theory first proposed by Sigmund
Freud. While related to repression the concept distinguishes itself in several
ways. It is characterized as a mental process involving the creation of a gap
between an unpleasant or threatening cognition, and other thoughts and feelings.
By minimizing associative connections with other thoughts, the threatening
cognition is remembered less often and is less likely to affect self-esteem or the
self-concept. Freud illustrated the concept with the example of a person
beginning a train of thought and then pausing for a moment before continuing to
a different subject. His theory stated that by inserting an interval the person was
"letting it be understood symbolically that he will not allow his thoughts about that
impression or activity to come into associative contact with other thoughts.” As a
defense against harmful thoughts, isolation prevents the self from allowing these
cognitions to become recurrent and possibly damaging to the self-concept.
27. Reversal
This defense, as well as turning against the self, was considered by Freud to
come into play quite early in life. It refers mainly to turning love into hate and hate
into love for defensive purposes. Suppose there were a woman and a man. The
woman is frightened of her unconscious longing to have sex with a man. He
knows she drinks and smokes secretly, which he normally hates. The man likes
her and has a good friendship with her. He thinks of her as smart and talented.
The man doesn't want to sleep with her, but just wants to keep good company
with her. She is constantly angry and scornful of him. In this case, reversal into
its opposite is similar to reaction formation. Another easier example is Aesop's
sour grape.
28. Turning against the self
This was one of the first defense mechanisms discussed by Freud, who
considered it to be a very early defensive process. It is actually quite a complex
operation, in which the object of a drive, usually aggression, is changed from
another person to the self. It is therefore seen frequently in depression and
masochism. In these conditions, the ego defends itself against the fear of its
aggression; the person's conscience also plays a role in turning the aggression
away from the object toward the self.
29. Compensation
Alfred Adler observed that much of human life is devoted to compensating for
whatever we think are our weaknesses. Sometimes we try to improve on
whatever we are weak in, the most famous example being Demosthenes
becoming a great speaker.

Sometimes people recognize a weakness in one area, but try to excel in another.
Some examples of this can be seen in average students becoming outstanding
 athletes, and students who are physically not very attractive becoming great
scholars. These are healthy way to handle the anxiety of feeling inferior or
inadequate. There are, however, unhealthy ways to compensate, such as a
person feeling unloved becoming promiscuous, substituting quantity for quality.
30. Dissociation
Dissociation usually stems from a trauma, intense pain, or a serious identity
crisis. It may manifest itself in disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
memory loss, Multiple Personality Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, as well as the
more common phenomena of flashbacks, and forgetting something
embarrassing.

However, in dissociation memories are not just lost in the subconscious (as in
repression) but they are splintered and distorted. It is as if under intense stress
the ability of the consciousness to include all the thoughts, emotions, and
somatic sensations fails, and some aspects become separated and inaccessible.
Thus, a person may remember what happened, but forget how it felt. Or, a
person may feel depersonalized, like a robot.

There is also an "everyday life" level of dissociation involving assumptions about

things and people. In this case, people tend to discard some parts of reality that
contradict a belief that they hold as true.
31. Fantasy
Fantasy (dareydreams, literature, television, Internet) is a way to escape real
problems. Imagining that one is successful may lead to feelings of success,
especially when one's reality is the opposite of success. In some cases, this may
be beneficial: fantasy acts as a rehearsal for our future success. Thinking about
an upcoming vacation, or a reward for work when it gets too stressful, is a
healthy use of fantasy. Many self-help methods are based on fantasy: covert
rehearsal, covert sensitization/desensitization, empathy, etc.

However, just as fantasy may be part of the solution, it may become part of the
problem. Imagining the worst consequences may lead to fear, or reliving a bad
situation may lead to anger and depression. Also, imagining solutions to
problems instead of actually solving them can have negative consequences.
When a person actually starts to live in the world of fantasy they created, instead
of facing the real world and real challenges, it has become pathological.
32. Identification
Identification (sometimes also called introjection) involves identifying with
someone else, taking on their personality characteristics, in order to solve some
emotional difficulty and avoid anxiety. This was originally Freud's solution to
 Oedipus and Electra complexes: identify with the same sex parent and try to
become like him or her.
33. Withdrawal
Withdrawal involves the removal of oneself from anything and everything that
carries reminders of painful or stressful thoughts and emotions. Since normal
social life involves many situations that are connected to the painful event, and
friends or colleagues may ask uncomfortable questions, the use of withdrawal
means the end of one's social life. Furthermore, even television or literature may
contain images or scenes that elicit painful emotions or stressful thoughts, and so
many normal activities come to be avoided. Withdrawal is one the most severe
defense mechanisms because it can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness,
which create more anxiety and pain. Combined with fantasy, withdrawal can
paralyze one's life.
34. Compartmentalization
Compartmentalization is a lesser form of dissociation, wherein parts of oneself
are separated from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had
separate sets of values. An example might be an honest person who cheats on
their income tax return and keeps their two value systems distinct and un-
integrated while remaining unconscious of the cognitive dissonance.
35. Delusional projection
Delusions about external reality, usually of a persecutory nature. Example: The
client uses projection with the added component of belief that the event or situation being
projected is part of objective reality when in fact it is not.
36. Conversion
The expression of an intrapsychic conflict as a physical symptom; some
examples include blindness, deafness, paralysis, or numbness. This
phenomenon is sometimes called hysteria.
37. Distortion
A gross reshaping of external reality to meet internal needs.
38. Extreme projection
The blatant denial of a moral or psychological deficiency, which is perceived as a
deficiency in another individual or group.
39. Wishful thinking
Making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by
appealing to evidence, rationality, or reality.
40. Idealization
Tending to perceive another individual as having more desirable qualities than he
or she may actually have.
41. Passive aggression
Aggression towards others expressed indirectly or passively, often through
procrastination.
42. Projective identification
The object of projection invokes in that person precisely the thoughts, feelings or
behaviors projected.
43. Hypochondriasis
An excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness.
44. Respect
Willingness to show consideration or appreciation. Respect can be a specific
feeling of regard for the actual qualities of a person or feeling being and also
specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Relationships and
contacts that are built without the presence of respect are seldom long term or
sustainable. The lack of respect is at the very heart of most conflict in families,
communities, and nations.
45. Moderation
The process of eliminating or lessening extremes and staying within reasonable
limits. It necessitates self-restraint which is imposed by oneself on one's own
feelings, desires etc.
46. Patience
The level of endurance under difficult circumstances (delay, provocation,
criticism, attack etc.) one can take before negativity. Patience is a recognized
virtue in many religions.
47. Courage
The mental ability and willingness to confront conflicts, fear, pain, danger,
uncertainty, despair, obstacles, vicissitudes or intimidation. Physical courage
often extends lives, while moral courage preserves the ideals of justice and
fairness.
48. Humility
A mechanism by which a person, considering their own defects, has a humble
self-opinion. re is intelligent self-respect which keeps one from thinking too highly
or too meanly of oneself.
49. Mindfulness
Adopting a particular orientation toward one’s experiences in the present
moment, an orientation that is characterized by curiosity, openness, and
acceptance.
50. Acceptance
A person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition
(often a difficult or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it,
protest, or exit. Religions and psychological treatments often suggest the path of
acceptance when a situation is both disliked and unchangeable, or when change
may be possible only at great cost or risk.
51. Gratitude
 A feeling of thankfulness or appreciation involving appreciation of a wide range of
people and events. Gratitude is likely to bring higher levels of happiness, and
lower levels of depression and stress. Throughout history, gratitude has been
given a central position in religious and philosophical theories.
52. Tolerance
The practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one
disapproves.
53. Mercy
Compassionate behavior on the part of those in power.
54. Forgiveness
Cessation of resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offence,
disagreement, or mistake, or ceasing to demand retribution or restitution.
55. Anticipation
Realistic planning for future discomfort. Example: The client experiences emotional
reactions in advance. They anticipate consequences. They consider realistic alternatives.
56. Emotional self-regulation
The ability to respond to the ongoing demands of experience with the range of
emotions in a manner that is socially tolerable. Emotional self-regulation refers to
the processes people use to modify the type, intensity, duration, or expression of
various emotions.
57. Emotional self-sufficiency
Not being dependent on the validation (approval or disapproval) of others.
58. 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.
59. 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.
60. Deflection
Also detected when the individual is in group therapy and consists of redirecting
attention to another group member.
61. 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.
62. 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.
63. 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.
64. 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.
65. Restitution
The mechanism of relieving the mind of a load of guilt by making up or reparation
(paying up with interest). [reaction formation] [undoing]
66. 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.
67. Somatization
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.
68. Substitution
Through this defense mechanism, the individual secures alternative or
substitutive gratification comparable to those that would have been employed
had frustration not occurred.
69. 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).
70. Minimizers
Some respond to trauma and the resulting inability to meet particular needs
through repression or suppression of those parts that embody the awareness of
those needs.
71. Maximizers
Others respond to trauma and the resulting inability to meet needs by becoming
increasingly obsessive and desperate in their zealous attempts to get those
needs met. This may occur as the particular exiled part burdened by that unmet
need takes control of the system, lashing out in its extreme immature, childish
state.
72. Anger
Is the use expression of anger (voice tone, cursing, facial expressions, body
jesters, aggression, violence) to control the situation.
73. Arguing
Is bringing up a controversy to side track the other individual. "My position is
that ....don't you agree that I am right?" (While knowing quite well he/she will
disagree.)
74. Blaming
Is laying the judgment for your problems upon someone else. "I could be a good
husband if wasn't for my wife. It is all her fault."
75. Compliance
Is giving in to the wishes of another to avoid confrontation. "O.K., I will do
whatever you want."
76. Defiance
Is daring others to prove that you are wrong. "I challenge you to show me in the
Bible where it says that smoking marijuana is wrong."
77. Explaining
Is explaining the problem in minute detail, thinking that that may resolve the
problem. Example: "I first began to look at pornography when I was eight years
old. Then when I was ten, I found some of my dad's girlie magazines. When I
was fifteen, I met this girl that was really into pornography and we looked at it
and acted out some. Then when I got a computer ....."
78. Excuses
Is the use of logic that may appear to be acceptable to avoid an issue. "I think
you can find someone more skilled than I to choose for the project."
79. Judgmentalism
Is placing others on a lower spiritual level to cover one's own spiritual
inadequacies. "If you would get some counseling yourself, then I think that I could
handle the situation."
80. Justifying
Is trying balance your wrong with the wrong of others. "I wouldn't have to take so
many tranquilizers if my husband wasn't angry all the time."
81. Lying
Is a blatant lie to cover one's back. "No, sir. I wasn't speeding. I have never
broken a traffic law in my life."
82. Analyzing
Is an attempt to explain the cause for your failure, believing that that may resolve
the issue. "I have thought long and hard on the problem and believe that it must
have been precipitated from my exposure to too much violence on the T.V."
83. Manipulation
 Is trying to indirectly blame someone else for your difficulty. Then trying to get
the other person to straighten up so that you can. "If you will quite bringing home
all that fatty food, I will go on a diet."
84. Questioning
Is the means of firing questions at the potential intruder to keep him from bringing
up threatening issues in your own life.
85. Shouting
Is using a loud voice to try to control the situation. "Don't tell me to shut up!! I
will say what I want to say!!!"
86. Silence
Is using silence to protect yourself from talking about the problem. This is often
the case with men in marriage. When confronted with the issue, the individual
may just walk away or stand there and say nothing.
87. Threatening
Is using aggression to avoid facing an issue. "Don't ever bring up that topic
again or I will make you wish that you hadn't!"
88. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is the emphasis of a person’s needs or thoughts in a manner that
is respectful, Direct and firm.
89. Workaholism
Where you avoid dealing with problems by burying yourself in work. Workaholism
could be considered a form of Distraction (see below), but distraction is
something you choose to do, and many workaholics don’t perceive their devotion
to the office as a choice so much as a duty.
90. 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 guy and believes that
everything happens to them. They have difficulty taking any ownership for
problems (i.e. the breakdown in the relationship) and are unable to acknowledge
they have choices and can take action.

91. Sexualization
Is a way of transforming an experience of pain or terror into pleasurable
excitation; the fear of abandonment or abuse, for example, can be sexualized in
order to be felt as gratifying experiences. It is not unusual that relatively healthy
individuals sexualize certain areas of their lives (dependency, aggression) in
order for them to be more bearable.
92. Self-Handicapping
Refers to actions or a statement we make that allows us to avoid responsibility
for potential failures that could damage our self-esteem. It is much more
embarrassing and harmful to our self-esteem to put forth effort and fail than it is
to self-handicap and have excuses to why we failed. Example: Stephen hasn’t
 had to forth much effort in any on his academic endeavors, so when he came
across a challenging course, it was much easier for him to self-handicap than it
was to try, especially since he had not been doing well in the course to begin
with. Stephen was easily able to explain his bad grade away by blaming it on his
ski trip and lack of studying, which are external factors.
93. Sarcasm
Is an ironic or satirical remark that seems to be praising someone or something
but is really taunting or cutting. Sarcasm can be used to hurt or offend or can be
used for comic affect. Example : I work 40 hours a week to be this poor.
94. Activism
Emphasize vigorous action instead of adopting practical problem-solving
strategies. Example: You and your girlfriend decided to just break up instead of
solving the problem or the challenge on your relationship
95. Adaptation
Our ability to adapt can of course be very helpful, enabling us to survive many of
the problems that life throws at us. Yet problems can also occur. The individual
deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by changing
oneself in accordance of the will of the person and or situation. Example: The
class needs to decide whether to change or not to change the class schedule.
96. Animism
You give human qualities to non-human entities. Example: You always talk to
your pillow because it comforts you.
97. 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.
98. Intimidation
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.
99. Apathy/Apathetic withdrawal
The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
shutting down your emotional responses to safeguard; showing lack of emotion
or feeling. Example: People are criticizing you because of your performance but
you choose to neglect them and not to care.
100. Ascetism
Eliminates pleasurable effects of experiences. Uses morals to assign values to
specific pleasures. Derives gratification from renunciation of all consciously-
perceived base pleasures. The individual deals with emotional conflicts or
internal or external stressors by repudiating all instinctual impulses. The concept
is derived from the doctrine that material things are evil and only spiritual things
are good. Example: You failed on the test that’s why you went to the mall.
101. Attacking others
When our ego becomes threatened, we feel vulnerable and hurt, or we don’t
want to admit our own shortcomings or contributions to the problem, we try to
cope with this pain by blaming or attacking others instead. Example: You blame
your teacher when you failed your exam. You said that she didn’t teach the topic
well.
102. Blocking
Inhibits thinking temporarily. May include affects and impulses. Resembles
repression, except tension felt. You temporarily or transiently inhibit thinking.
Affects and impulses may also be involved. Blocking closely resembles
repression but differs in that tension arises when the impulse, affect, or thought is
inhibited. Example: A Model acts like nothing happened after she slipped off the
runway.
103. Complaining
The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
giving in to wishes of another to avoid confrontation. Example: You are
complaining about how low your grades are instead of changing your study
habits.
104. Confluence
The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
giving in to wishes of another to avoid confrontation. Example: You are
complaining about how low your grades are instead of changing your study
habits.
105. Controlling
The Individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
attempting to manage or regulate events or objects in the environment to
minimize anxiety and to resolve inner conflicts. Example: Your father forbids you
to use gadgets after midnight.
106. Desensitization
Similar to deflection, this is another way of avoiding contact with an emotional
trigger. However, while deflection prevents the stimulus from reaching our
thoughts, Desensitization concerns a more profound shutting down at the
emotional level. Example: Other people find themselves sleepy and heavy in the
presence of the desensitized person.
107. Direct Attack
When you use direct attack in response to a threat to your self-esteem, you
attack the source of the threat. This may take the form of “lashing out” at another
person. Example: You punch your classmate who always teases you.
108. Disavowal
Keeps unwanted events from the conscious mind. Example: You force yourself
not think about your failed relationship (with your boyfriend or girlfriend.)
109. Distraction
The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external by consciously
deciding to put off thinking or feeling distressing thoughts or feelings by
temporarily focusing your attention towards something less threatening.
 Example: A father asking his son why he went home late, the son avoided the
question and said that he needs to pay something in school.
110. Egotism
In Gestalt psychology, Egotism is characterized by an excessive preoccupation
with one’s own thoughts, feelings, behaviors and effect on others. The
preoccupation can be positive, admiring and self-congratulatory or critical and
undermining- either way, it is avoidance of real relational contact. Example: A
person who believes only in himself.
111. Emotional Insulation
The Individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
unconsciously protecting. Example: Justin really wants to ask Erika out for a date
but doesn’t do so to avoid the prospect of rejection.
112. Emphasizing Effect
It is the act of emphasizing the expression of one’s affects and using them in an
excessive manner to avoid their rational explanation and, from the beginning,
their explanation. These feeling are therefore unconsciously magnified for
defensive purposes. Example: You laughed hard when it is your time to tell your
friends who your crush is.
113. Escapism
It is the act of emphasizing the expression of one’s affects and using them in an
excessive manner to avoid their rational explanation and, from the beginning,
their explanation. These feeling are therefore unconsciously magnified for
defensive purposes. Example: You laughed hard when it is your time to tell your
friends who your crush is.
114. Exageration
You make too much of a deal over something. Example: You reacted too much
to the point of passing out when your classmate’s nose bleed.
115. Externalization
It is the tending to perceive in the external world and in external objects elements
of one’s own personality, including instinctual impulses, conflicts, moods,
attitudes, and styles of thinking. Example: A patient who is overly argumentative
might instead perceive others as argumentative and himself as blameless.
116. Fatigue
You feel tired, but you’re not physically ill. Example: When you realized that you
have many school works to do, you feel tired.
117. Fight or Flight Reaction
When we perceive a significant threat to us, then our bodies get ready either for
a fight to the death or a desperate flight from certain defeat by a clearly superior
adversary. The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external
stressors by cranking up the body when threatened, readying it for fighting or
running away. Example: The storm is so strong storm surge were formed, it is up
to you to if you will evacuate or save your things first.
118. Frankness
You’re honest and blunt, but this covers up your actual thoughts and feelings.
Example: You say that your friend’s partner is not physically good.
119. Generalization
 The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
looking at a person, situation as a whole; being non-specific. Example: Your dad
left your mom when you were still a kid. You’re scared to venture into a
relationship thinking that he will leave you too.
120. Glaring/Staring
The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
looking at a person, situation as a whole; being non-specific. Example: Your dad
left your mom when you were still a kid. You’re scared to venture into a
relationship thinking that he will leave you too.
121. Hallucination
The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
looking at a person, situation as a whole; being non-specific. Example: Your dad
left your mom when you were still a kid. You’re scared to venture into a
relationship thinking that he will leave you too.
122. Hostile aggression
You get into fights to hide unpleasant feelings. Example: Faye punches walls out
of anger.
123. Hypochondriasis 
The transformation of negative feelings towards others into negative feelings
toward self, pain, illness and anxiety
124. Identification with Fantasy
You act like your favorite hero or heroine. Example: You want to become like the
Flash with so you are always running.
125. Identification with parents’ unconscious or conscious wishes/fantasies
You do as your parents forbid, act out their corrupt wishes, and get punished.
126. Identification with the Aggressor
By becoming an aggressor towards others, one avoids becoming a victim of
aggression. You act abusive to a person because someone has acted abusive to
you. This protects you from feeling angry. Example: You are hurting your siblings
because your father is hurting you also.
127. Illusion Formation
You consciously visualize a scene that is upsetting or pleasant and know it’s a
fantasy. Example: Day dreaming
128. Inhibition
The individual deals with emotional conflicts or internal or external stressors by
consciously limiting or renouncing some ego functions, alone or in combination,
to evade anxiety rising out of conflict with instinctual impulses, the superego, or
environmental forces or figures. Example: Monica has a social shyness.
129. Libidinal Regression
You are afraid of sex and assertiveness, so you become dependent or stubborn
instead
130. Mania
Maniac episodes of wild, frenetic activity are unconsciously employed by some
individuals as a distraction from unpleasant situations as a means to ward of
feelings of depression.
131. Mental Inhibition
 Threatening thoughts, emotions, desires or fears are blocked out of the
conscious mind.
132. Minimization
Not acknowledging the significance of the significance of one’s behavior.
133. Moralization
Similar to rationalization. When one is using rationalization one is making
behavior or feelings “reasonable”. When one use moralization, one is making
behavior or feelings “justifiable” or a moral obligation. Mild forms of moralization
are used in everyday life in regard to building character. Example: Carlo
preaching justification for his method of getting rid of individuals whom he felt
were immoral or undesirable members of society.
134. Negativism
You refuse to cooperate, and treat other people condescendingly. Example: A
patient is found with her eyes closed. When asked to open her eyes, she closes
them tighter. Each request provokes further opposition.
135. Nomadism
You refuse to cooperate, and treat other people condescendingly. Example: A
patient is found with her eyes closed. When asked to open her eyes, she closes
them tighter. Each request provokes further opposition.
136. Overly-Receptive
You refuse to cooperate, and treat other people condescendingly. Example: A
patient is found with her eyes closed. When asked to open her eyes, she closes
them tighter. Each request provokes further opposition.
137. Ownership
It is the cornerstone of Gestalt psychology; the concept of accepting
responsibility for all aspect of oneself. Example: A group leader who takes all the
responsibilities and tasks that is assigned to the group.
138. Perfectionism
Expressing aggression toward others indirectly through passivity, masochism,
behavior and turning against the self. Manifestation of passive aggressive
behavior includes failure, procrastination and illnesses that affect others more
than oneself. Example: A person at a meeting was asked to complete a task
wherein he thinks he will not be able to comply. They argued about how
important it is, but at the end of the day, they did not agree to do anything.
139. Polarization
The individual tends to meet to in or to the others as completely good or bad
without managing to integrate the positive and negative qualities of each one.
140. Postponement of affect
A defense mechanism which may be used against a variety of feelings or
emotions such a temporal displacement, resulting simply in a later appearance of
the affect reaction and in thus preventing the recognition of the motivation
connection, is most frequently used against the effects of rage (or annoyance)
and grief.
141. Prevarication
You lie on purpose, for a reason.
142. Projective Blaming
 You unfairly blame somebody else for your problem. Example: You blame your
friend because you are not able to watch the concert of 5SOS.
143. Psychotic Denial
It is a more severe form of denial, with no or little contact with reality. Example:
The client uses denial with the added component of belief that the event or
situation being denied can be verifiably proven to be false.
144. Psychotic Distortion
It is a more severe form of denial, with no or little contact with reality. Example:
The client makes internal efforts to reshape the external world with hallucinations
and delusions. The client creates a new reality.
145. Reconstruction of Reality
You reinvent a situation after denying the reality.
146. Resilience
Having bad past but grow up having good traits. Example: A person who grew up
abused shows kindness to other people.
147. Performing Rituals/Ritualization
Rituals are pre-defined sequences of activity. When faced with a difficult situation
we may indulge in some form of ritualized activity rather than face the situation
just now. In this way, we may avoid the problem for a few seconds and
sometimes for much longer.

These rituals can be small physical actions, long scripts of speech or more
complex combinations of behavior. Example: When faced with being dismissed
from a job, a person wrings their hands and talks about how hard they work and
how events conspire against them. It is an excuse they have used a number of
times before (and repeated in their heads many more times again).
148. Schizoid Fantasy
Pleasant fantasies, living in unreal happiness which blocks out reality. Indulge in
autistic retreat in order to resolve conflict and to obtain gratification. Interpersonal
intimacy is avoided, and eccentricity serves to repel others. The person does not
fully believe in the fantasies and does not insist on acting them out. Example: A
writer is too lonely to write in his apartment, so he goes to a coffee shop with his
laptop computer and manuscript. There he is not really connected with anybody,
especially since he does not give out signals that he wants to talk to anyone, but
he is not alone either.
149. Self-Depreciation
It is the act of devaluing oneself. Example: You are talented and yet you always
say that you’re not.
150. Self-Observation
(Such as through journaling) Is an alternative to seeking out others that offers
some of the same benefits, including venting of feelings, distancing and
increased perspective.
151. Simple Denial
Deny the reality of the unpleasant fact altogether. The individual deals with
emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by treating unpleasant facts,
emotions, or events as if they are not real or don’t exist
152. Stockholm syndrome
The victim identifies with the aggressor.
153. Temporal displacement to the future
You imagine “if only…” or “someday…”
154. Temporal Regression
You focus on earlier times to not think about current conflict.
155. Affiliation
The drive to socialize with others so as to benefit from their company and
counsel, is probably not a proper defense, but it is a perfect offensive strategy for
effective coping with anxiety and pain. Being with others provides opportunities
for venting, distraction, reality testing and a host of other helpful emotional
supports. Example: The client is able to turn to others for help and support. The
client is able to share problems without making someone else responsible.
156. Self-serving bias
The self-serving bias arises from our need to protect the ego from self-criticism
and to defend ourselves from the complaints of others. We show a self-serving
bias when we exaggerate the importance of our own achievements - after
passing a test, we might over-estimate the significance of that particular exam,
and take credit for completing it without acknowledging the role that tutors played
in our success.
157. Ascetic withdrawal
Removing pleasure from one’s life, as a sacrifice versus something, usually an
ideal, without remorse and guilt (feeling great while doing this).
158-159. Upward and Downward social comparisons
A defensive tendency that is used as a means of self-evaluation. Individuals will
look to another individual or comparison group who are considered to be worse
off in order to dissociate themselves from perceived similarities and to make
themselves feel better about themselves or their personal situation.
160. Distrust
162. Accusing
Direct allegation that someone is guilty of sth. Example: There are people who
think they have to drive directly into the post office, who don’t walk a single
footstep. Some people, who live here in O. [village name], drive to the mailbox
just a few houses down the street, post a letter, and drive back. Yeah, here I am
thinking ‘they are nuts’. Isn’t it just possible to walk there?! First, this would have
been goodS for them. And also these short distances are no good for the car and
they would have prevented the environment from harm a little bit, too, right?! (
163. Ridicule
164. Seeking approval
165. Self-Deception
167. Smiling
168. Violence
The best form of defense is attack' is a common saying and is also a common
action, and when we feel threatened or attacked (even psychologically), we will
attack back. When a person feels stressed in some way, they may lash out at
 whoever is in the way, whether the other person is a real cause or not. They may
also attack inanimate objects.
169. Vagueness
170. Mental distancing
Dissociate oneself from others’ opinions, attitudes, or behaviors. Example: I don’t
want to be like that [extremely ecological], I cannot be like that, and maybe
there’s also no need for it.
171. Objectivity
Person separates ideas from feelings and ideas from each other so that objective
evaluations may be achieved.
172. Logical analysis
Person thoughtfully and carefully analyzes causal aspects of a situation, whether
personal or not.
173. Tolerance of ambiguity
Person can cope with cognitive and affective complexity or dissonance. Gray
areas are tolerable, as not everything needs to be black and white.
174. Empathy
Person is able to understand and take into consideration others’ feelings and
ideas.
175. Ego regression
Person uses preconscious elements, which may be unrelated to a particular
situation, in a rich and flexible way.
176. Concentration
Person successfully disregards (positive or negative) affects so that he or she
may concentrate on a particular task.
177. Doubt
Person doubts the validity of his or her own perceptions and has trouble making
decisions. Person cannot tolerate ambiguity.
178. Psychotic Introjection
Psychotic internalization of the object to overcome overwhelming anxieties of
loss.
179. Psychotic Projection
Hallucinatory and paranoid externalization of inaccessible thoughts and their
connected affects.
180. Fragmentation
Reflects a primitive stage in psychic development, preceding the formation of
part self and part object images. Breaking up of the self or the object image into
components which may operate independently.
181. Catatonia
Psychomotor syndrome showing a specific constellation of affective, behavioral
and motor symptoms. Sensorimotor regression reflecting an immature
mechanism against the uncontrollable overflow of anxieties.
182. Denial of responsibility
Refusal to admit own responsibility for sth. Example: Yeah okay, in most cases
they [clothes made through child labor] are ‘made in Japan’, when you have a
close look, right? . . . Or China is the most frequent one. But what can I do
 against this here in Germany?! I cannot do anything against it any more
[emotional].
183. Partial confession
To confess own weaknesses in order to mask more severe weaknesses or to
preempt Arguments against oneself. Example: Sometimes if things are just
incredibly cheap, then it doesn’t matter to me. Well, there is a certain threshold,
not for every product, but for some of them. If it falls below that threshold, I will
just buy [pauses]. Okay, I know, that I do not always buy ecological and
biological, this would be a lie, I cannot leave this behind me completely.
184. Physical Distancing
When people perceive a threat, a common approach is to distance themselves
from it. physically move away from a threat. Example: A person having an
argument storms out of the room. (While this has a significant control aspect, it
also takes them away from the discomfort of conflict).
185. Crying
When people cannot emotionally cope with a situation, one option is to burst into
tears. Younger children readily cry. Women are more likely to cry than men, who
may get to a point where they want to cry, but cannot. Crying can appear at
different levels of noticeability, from silent tears to loud and heart-rending sobs.
Example: A person hears that one of their work projects has been stopped. They
feel like crying but hold it in until they get home, where they burst into tears of
frustration and sadness when telling their partner all about it.
186. Emotionality
When we become stressed or tension is caused, a number of negative emotions
may start to build, including anger, frustration, fear, jealousy and so on. When we
display these emotions it can affect others around us, arousing similar or polar
feelings. A common social value is that we should not distress others, so many
people hold the emotion in, 'bottling up' the stress. This in itself can trigger other
coping mechanisms. It can also result in explosive outbursts as we are unable to
contain the emotion further. Example: Teenagers often cannot contain the
emotions caused by physiological and temporal development. As a result, they
can be very emotional and can contribute significantly to family problems.
187. Post-Traumatic Growth
In post-traumatic growth, an individual who has suffered a traumatic experience
somehow finds ways to turn it into something good. Typically: Interpersonal
relationships are improved, with friends and family valued more, and more time
being spent in helping others. Self-perception changes through the increase in
resiliency gained from realizing you can cope with hardship. Life philosophy
changes, for example with acceptance of mortality and appreciation of each day.
188. Provocation
When a person feels stressed, one way they avoid dealing with the real issues is
to provoke others into some kind of reaction. The attention can then be put on
the other person and away from the originator's stress. This is a common
response when a person feels guilty about something. By provoking another
person, the guilt can then be transferred to that person. Example: A very
common context for provocation is between teenagers and their parents, siblings
 and teachers. The teenager deliberately does something reprehensible, gets told
off, and then blames the other person. The pattern also continues in
dysfunctional adult relationships.
189. Self-Harming
The person physically deliberately hurts themselves in some way or otherwise
puts themselves at high risk of harm. There is a whole spectrum of actions that
can appear here, from harmlessly tapping one's head ('I'm so stupid') to drawing
one's own blood and acting in reckless, near-suicidal ways. Self-harm is
generally considered to be more about the more extreme end of this spectrum,
where sustained bodily harm is caused. This can be a one-shot activity, taken in
anger or frustration. It can also be an obsessive activity that can lead to life-
threatening damage.
190. Trivializing
When we are faced with a disappointment over something that is important to us,
we are faced with the problem of having our expectations and predictions
dashed. We may even have told other people about it beforehand, making it
doubly embarrassing that we have not gained what we expected. As a response,
we make light of the situation, telling ourselves (and often other people) that it is
not that important anyway, thus trivializing what was previously important.
Example: One way that we trivialize is to make something a joke, laughing it off.