1
Denial
refusing to acknowledge thoughts, impulses, or feelings that are unacceptable to self
taking action to make up for real or imagined weaknesses in one area
Humor
use of jokes, puns, distraction, and redirection to steer attention toward lighter thoughts
Isolation
avoidance of personal interactions
Regression
reverting to an earlier developmental stage to deal with an uncomfortable reality
Fantasy
attaining symbolic satisfaction through use of nonrational thought, wishful thinking, and imaginary achievements
Identification
attempting to change oneself unconsciously to resemble someone who is admired or to assume similarity between the self and that individual
Minimization
refusing to acknowledge importance or significance of one's behavior
Substitution
replacing a highly valued but unattainable or unacceptable object with a less satisfying but acceptable and available one
Projection
transferring unacceptable desires, thoughts, or internal feelings to another person
Conversion
manifesting physical symptoms as an unconscious means to manage anxiety that accompanies emotional conflict
Introjection
incorporating the values and characteristics of another into oneself
Rationalization
justifying unacceptable feelings or behavior by using faulty logic or applying false, but socially acceptable, motives to behavior
Undoing
using words or actions to cancel out previous unacceptable thoughts or behaviors in an attempt to relieve guilt by making reparation
directing feelings about an individual who is threatening to the self onto another individual who is less threatening to the self
Intellectualization
using excessive cognitive reasoning to minimize or avoid feelings associated with distressing events or occurrences
Reaction formation
behaving or displaying attitudes that are exactly opposite of those that are felt when real feelings are deem unacceptable
Repression
using an unconscious process to block threatening or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or desires to keep them from becoming conscious
Suppression
keeping unacceptable thoughts and feelings out of conscious awareness
Sublimation
displacing energy associated with unacceptable needs or drives into more socially acceptable activities
Altruism
dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others
Dissociation
a disruption in consciousness, memory, identify or perception of the environment that results in compartmentalization of uncomfortable or unpleasant aspect of oneself
Splitting
demonstrating an inability to reconcile negative and positive attributes of self or others into a cohesive image