Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies whereby people protect themselves from anxious thoughts or feelings.
Defense Mechanisms in Everyday Life
Life is full of unexpected or challenging situations, and defense mechanisms can potentially alleviate that discomfort. They can manifest, for example, in passive-aggressive behavior when two friends can’t confront conflict or when an employee displaces anger toward her boss onto her daughter that night at dinner. Defense mechanisms can reflect isolated incidents, both beneficial and maladaptive, or a consistent pattern of behavior that can be explored with the help of a therapist.
Defense mechanisms might emerge more severely and consistently in some people due to insecurities in childhood , some psychologists believe. Children may not know how to grapple with or overcome certain challenges, which leads them to question themselves and enact defenses against those challenges. Adults have the ability to address those challenges, but obsolete defense mechanisms might occasionally reappear to alleviate the stress.
Close relationships often arouse our deepest emotions, and sometimes we turn to defenses to manage those emotions. Yet this can lead to more anxiety by driving a wedge into the relationship, so it’s valuable to reflect on whether you or your partner use certain defenses. These include:
• Projection: Do you blame your partner for your own flaws? Rather than admit it, do you accuse your partner of being messy or careless?
Explore More About Defense Mechanisms
For a comprehensive understanding of defense mechanisms, read our complete guide: