Defense Mechanisms

Lecture Summary
Learn about pathological, immature, and mature defense mechanisms in part 2 of the crazy inside all of us!

Key Point
- All of us have unacceptable impulses, emotions, desires, and anxieties which would be unacceptable to act upon.
- Our unconscious minds deploy a number of tactics, most notably defense or coping mechanisms to protect our rational minds from these anxiety provoking stimuli.
- Pathological defense mechanisms discussed include delusional projection, denial, and distortion.
- Immature defense mechanisms discussed include idealization, introjection, passive aggressive, withdrawal, social comparisons (racism), regression, acting out, projection, fantasy, somatization, conversion, repression, intellectualization, dissociation, and reaction formation.
- Mature defense mechanisms discussed include altruism, humor, sublimation, and suppression.

References

-       First Aid for Step 1, Medical Board Exam Review Book

-       Sigmund Freud 

-       Utah Psych Defense Mechanisms. Available at: http://www.utahpsych.org/defensemechanisms.htm

-       DSM5, personality disorder section

-       Wikipedia, defense mechanisms

-       Personal experience treating and dealing with crazy people

-       The crazy inside me