Overview of Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are subconscious strategies used by the ego to protect an individual from anxiety and perceived threats

Primary Defense Mechanisms

Denial

Denial is the refusal to accept reality or facts in order to avoid dealing with painful emotions or events

Repression

Repression involves unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts and impulses from entering conscious awareness

Displacement

Displacement redirects emotional responses from their original source to a substitute target

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory and Defense Mechanisms

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, defense mechanisms help the ego cope with the demands of the id and the superego throughout different stages of development

Overview of Psychosexual Development

Psychosexual development is the process of a child's psychosexual energy being focused on different erogenous zones during different stages of development

Freud's Five Stages of Psychosexual Development

Oral Stage

The oral stage is associated with issues related to weaning

Anal Stage

The anal stage is associated with issues related to toilet training

Phallic Stage

The phallic stage is associated with the Oedipal and Electra complexes

Gendered Notions in Psychosexual Development

Freud's theory of penis envy in girls has been criticized for its androcentric and heteronormative bias

Adaptive and Maladaptive Use of Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms can be adaptive when used in moderation, but an overreliance on them can lead to maladaptive behaviors and emotional dysfunction

Importance of Understanding and Regulating Defense Mechanisms

It is crucial to understand and regulate defense mechanisms for better psychological well-being