Defense mechanisms by Freud with examples. Books on psychology that are worth reading

Defense mechanisms by Freud represent a kind of brain reaction to external stimuli that arise unconsciously. Distorting reality and falsifying its perception, they help reduce the threat of stress.

Definition of concept

Defense mechanisms are one of the most important concepts of psychoanalysis, which are methods of self-defense (namely, the protection of one's self), the regulation of negative impulses that come from the mind of a person. This happens under the influence of social rules and norms, which, one way or another, put pressure on the individual. The protective mechanism is designed to protect a person from possible experiences and anxieties, which are caused by a mismatch of social views and personal views of a person. This term was first voiced in 1894 by the well-known psychologist Sigmund Freud.

Types of protective mechanisms

Due to individual characteristics, people react differently to stimuli, stresses and internal impulses. In connection with this, the following types of protective mechanisms can be distinguished:

• crowding out;
• projection;
• Substitution;
• rationalization;
• Reactive formation;
• regression;
• sublimation;
• negation.

Basic properties of protective mechanisms

A number of features have protective mechanisms according to Freud. With examples from real life worth familiarizing in order to understand the nature of this phenomenon. So, protective mechanisms have such properties:

• Are a kind of self-deception, since they manifest themselves on the unconscious level;
• Distort the perception of reality, which can be even more dangerous for a person than a real threat;
• Represent the emotional side of reaction to surrounding events;
• Can arise on the basis of fear that negative impulses will become conscious.

crowding out

Considering the defense mechanisms according to Freud, in the first place it is worth noting the displacement. This is a kind of foundation through which later more complex mechanisms can be formed. Repression is a "forgetting" or "removal" of the consciousness of those feelings and thoughts that cause psychological discomfort. In this case, events that preceded the trauma may disappear from memory.

It should be noted that repression is not absolute. There is always a risk that memories of unpleasant events will break out, and therefore one has to expend a huge amount of energy to suppress them. This can negatively affect the personal development of a person. In this case, even if the displacement mechanism has worked, the stimulus may reappear in a dream or slip in reservations.

Defense mechanisms by Freud are reflected in real life. So, for example, a decent spouse, by virtue of his moral principles, does not admit the possibility of betrayal to his wife. He in every possible way supersedes such thoughts and fantasies. Nevertheless, it is possible that in a dream he takes part in pleasures with an extraneous woman.

Projection

In stressful situations, protective mechanisms almost always work. According to Freud, the second place is the projection. Its meaning is that the individual tries to transfer his thoughts, feelings and life circumstances to other people. Thus, he removes all guilt and responsibility for his own failures and troubles.

As an example, you can bring a student or a student who is not prepared for the exam. His poor assessment, he tries to justify the prejudiced attitude of the teacher. If we talk about athletes, then in their defeat they often accuse low quality of sports equipment, playing field or dishonest judging.

Substitution

Considering examples of psychological defenses, one can not ignore the substitution. Its mechanism is to redirect attention from threatening to another object. The most striking example of this mechanism is a child punished by parents for their pranks. Unable to answer them, he pushes his anger on a younger brother or sister, kicking him or breaking toys.

Reaction of substitution is inherent not only to children, but also to many adults. For example, often employees are attacked and criticized by management. The fear of losing their jobs stops them before responding to their superiors. Nevertheless, when coming home, they can take out aggression on their family members.

It is worth noting that some individuals are very peculiar implement the mechanism of substitution. Being weak by their nature, they can not take out their aggression on an outsider, and therefore start to suppress themselves. As a result, a person suppresses himself emotionally, engaging in self-criticism and self-flagellation.

Rationalization

Psychological protection as a way of overcoming stress can manifest itself in the form of rationalization. This is a deliberate distortion of reality in order to maintain a high level of self-esteem. There is a complex system of reasoning, which is designed to justify irrational behavior. One of the most striking examples of such a mechanism can be found in the fables of Aesop. He describes a fox who can not reach a branch with grapes. To justify her failure, she claims that the fruits are still unripe.

Similar examples can be found in everyday life. So, for example, not always a woman reciprocates with the attention and courtship of a man. Not wishing to accept this fact, a man can convince himself of her unattractiveness or spread defamatory rumors. Another situation is related to student life. So, for example, if an entrant failed to enter a certain faculty, he begins to convince himself and others that this profession is not at all interesting to him.

Reactive formation

The deep psychology of Freud singles out a mechanism like jet formation. It is implemented on two levels:

• Suppression of a negative or unacceptable pulse occurs;
• At the subconscious level, incentives of the opposite content are formed.

Most often, these mechanisms take place in public life. So, it is extremely indecent in the society is expressed expressed sexual desire. Thus, a woman who has a similar feature tries to suppress her in every way. To deserve a positive image in society, she can even act as an ardent fighter for morality and morality. The same applies to men who strongly oppose homosexual relations, and secretly have such inclinations themselves.

Regression

Regression is another protective mechanism. Psychology describes it as a return to children's behavior patterns in order to protect themselves from shocks and stress. This is due to the fact that this age is the most comfortable and safe from the point of view of the world view. So, the most elementary form of regression can be considered crying.

Sublimation

Psychological defense mechanisms according to Freud also include sublimation. This mechanism allows a person to change his impulses and views so that they can be expressed in a form that is acceptable in society. In psychology, sublimation is seen as the most healthy and proper defense mechanism. This is due to the fact that a person does not restrain himself in the manifestation of his impulses, but only changes the form of their presentation.

Freud, given the specifics of his theory, it was peculiar to pay special attention to the sublimation of sexual attraction. It is with this phenomenon that he links the incredible upsurge of culture and science that occurred in Western Europe. If this mechanism is designed to modern reality, we can cite the example of adolescents who can sublimate their unrealized sexual needs into sports achievements.

Despite the fact that many hide it, you can often meet people with sadistic inclinations. So, individuals with such deviation may well become successful surgeons. Also, such fantasies can be sublimated in the writing of detective novels.

Negation

The personal defense mechanisms of Freud include an element such as negation. It consists in the fact that a person categorically refuses to recognize the fact of an incident of a negative event. The most vivid example is the child's reaction to the death of a pet. He refuses to acknowledge this loss, believing that the animal is still somewhere nearby. A similar example can be cited in connection with the loss of a loved one. Refusal to take the obvious can develop into a religious belief that the relative is now living in heaven or his spirit is still present in the house.

Often, the mechanism of negation works when it comes to health. So, feeling the symptoms of a disease, a person can simply ignore them, suggesting that with him this can not happen. A similar reaction can be observed on an already confirmed diagnosis.

Books on psychology that are worth reading

Sooner or later any person begins to be interested in some or other mechanisms of the work of consciousness and subconsciousness. The best way to get acquainted with the work of such a psychologist as Sigmund Freud. Books, the psychology of the person in which is best represented, is:

• "Doing with psychoanalysis" is one of the most famous books, moreover, this work is considered the most significant in all of Freud's work. Here are outlined the main provisions that have had a decisive influence on the further development not only of psychology and medicine, but also of fiction.
• "Interpretation of dreams" is a monumental work, which became one of the brightest in the twentieth century. Here is the result of the study by Freud of the unconscious part of consciousness that controls the instincts of man, but is difficult to learn. Here the symbolism of dreams is considered, which helps to understand the problems, desires and fears of the individual.
• "Psychopathology of everyday life" - this is the second monumental study of Freud. The book is relevant to this day, and therefore is key in the study of psychology. The main attention is paid to unconscious motives, which not only can act as stimuli, but also often cause psychological disorders.
• "I and Ono" is a collection of works by a psychologist, which can be considered the culmination of his work. Here, not only are the basic provisions of psychoanalysis described, but their sources and justifications are also presented.
• "Totem and Taboo" is a work in which Freud, based on his own research and theory, tries to reveal the problems of genesis. Thus, the author turns to the problem of culture, religion, morality, law and other aspects of society.
• "The psychology of the masses and the analysis of the human" I "-is a work in which Freud conducted a fundamental work on the study of the behavior of the crowd, and also explains the need of the masses for the leader.
• "Essays on the psychology of sexuality" - a collection in which the psychologist raises the most delicate topics. From here you can learn about the nature and causes of intimate deviations, propensity to perversions, as well as sadism, homosexuality, etc.

It is worth noting that this is not all books on psychology that are worth reading. It is also important to study the work of other specialists who had a slightly different view of things than Freud.

conclusions

Defense mechanisms by Freud are, in a way, an unconscious reaction that works in a stressful situation or in the face of a threat. Regardless of which type of barrier is triggered, in any case, it is a question of significant energy costs, which overwhelmingly affects the ego. In addition, the more effective this or that mechanism is, the more energy it requires, and the more it distorts the objective reality.

Given the unconscious nature of protective reactions, not everyone can control them. Nevertheless, having noticed the effectiveness of this or that barrier, an individual can already consciously resort to it in a stressful situation. Excessively rely on this technique is not necessary, because it can become a very beneficial soil for the emergence of psychological problems.