The psychodynamic models of abnormal behavior have two main distinguishing
features. First, they view disorders as the result of childhood trauma or
anxieties. Second, they hold that many of the childhood-based anxieties operate
unconsciously; because experiences are too threatening for the adult to face, they
are repressed through mental defense mechanisms – the very topic of this post;
defense mechanisms are ego-protections strategies that shelter the individual
from anxiety – either neurotic, reality or moral – operate unconsciously, and
distort reality. As a result, people exhibit
symptoms that they are unable to
understand because they are manifestations of the unconscious conflicts. This post will be focusing on seven of the most common types of defense mechanisms.
Denial
Declaring or thinking whatever is true is false. Refusal to accept reality,
external facts, events, implications because the nature of the reality
threatens individual. Emotional conflicts resolved by refusal to acknowledge
unpleasant external realities.
Example: Alcoholic who refuses to believe his drinking makes an impact on
his job performance or family life
