Defense Mechanisms Lecture by Cathy from Level Up RN

Overview

• Defense Mechanisms: Unconscious or conscious coping mechanisms used to decrease anxiety.
• 17 defense mechanisms discussed in alphabetical order.
• Importance of repetition to remember them.
• Includes a quiz at the end to test knowledge.

Defense Mechanisms

1. Avoidance

• Definition: Avoiding people or situations that cause distressing thoughts or feelings.

2. Compensation

• Definition: Focusing on strengths instead of perceived weaknesses.
• Example: Struggling academically but focusing on sports.

3. Conversion

• Definition: Development of physical symptoms in response to stress without medical cause.

4. Denial

• Definition: Refusal to accept the reality of a situation.

5. Displacement

• Definition: Transferring feelings from one target to another.
• Example: Yelling at a nurse after receiving a poor diagnosis.

6. Disassociation

• Definition: Compartmentalizing or disconnecting from reality.
• Example: Soldier feeling like observing himself from outside.

7. Identification

• Definition: Adopting beliefs or behaviors of another person.

8. Intellectualization

• Definition: Avoiding emotions by focusing on facts and logic.

9. Projection

• Definition: Attributing personal thoughts/feelings onto others.
• Analogy: Like a movie projector.

10. Rationalization

• Definition: Justifying unacceptable behavior with logic-based explanation.
• Example: Cheating on a test and justifying it by saying the material wasn't necessary.

11. Reaction Formation

• Definition: Expressing the opposite feelings/behavior from what is actually felt.
• Example: Teasing someone you like.

12. Regression

• Definition: Reverting to earlier developmental level in response to stress.
• Example: Potty-trained child starts wetting bed after new sibling is born.

13. Repression

• Definition: Subconscious blocking of unpleasant feelings.
• Note: Different from suppression.

14. Splitting

• Definition: All-or-nothing mentality; not recognizing both positive and negative attributes.
• Commonly Seen In: Borderline personality disorder.

15. Sublimation

• Definition: Transforming unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors.
• Example: Punching a pillow instead of a person.

16. Suppression

• Definition: Conscious blocking of unpleasant feelings.

17. Undoing

• Definition: Attempting to cancel out unacceptable behavior by doing something to reverse it.
• Example: Being harsh in a review, then overly nice to compensate.

Quiz

1. Question: Subconscious blocking of unpleasant feelings?
   • Answer: Repression
2. Question: Transforming unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors?
   • Answer: Sublimation
3. Question: Expressing opposite behavior/feelings from what is felt?
   • Answer: Reaction Formation

Conclusion

• These defense mechanisms require repetition to learn.
• Encouragement to subscribe to Level Up RN's channel for more content.
• Invitation to share the video and provide feedback on its usefulness.