1420 UALR EGO DEFENSE MECHANISMS

A physically handicapped boy is unable to participate in football, so he compensates by becoming a great scholar

A woman drinks alcohol every day and cannot stop.

Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable.

Refusing to acknolwdge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it.

A client is angry at his doctor, does not express it, but becomes verbally abusive with the nurse.

The transfer of feelings from one target to another that is conisdered less threatening or that is neutral

A teengaged boy who required lengthy rehabilitation after an accident decides to become a physical therapist as a result of his experiences.

Susan's husband is being transferred with his job to a city far away from her parents. She hides anxiety by explaining to her parents the advantages associated with the move.

Children integrate their parents' value sysmtem into the process of conscience formation A child says to friend, "Don't cheat, It's wrong".

Without showing any emotion, a young woman describes being attacked and raped.

Sue feels a strong sexual attraction to her track coach and tells her friend, "He's coming on to me!"

Attriburing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one's self to another person.

John tells the rehab nurse, " I drink because it's the only way I can deal with my bad marriage and my worse job".

Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors.

Jane hates nursing. She attended nursing school to please her parents. During career day, she speaks to prospective students about the excellence of nursing as a career.

Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors.

When a 2-year old Jay is hospitalized for tonsillitis he will drink only from a bottle, although his mother states he has been drinking from a cup for 6 months.

An accident victim can rember nothing about the accident.

Involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one's awareness

A mother whose son was killed by a drunk driver channels her anger and energy into being the president of the local chapter of Motherss Against Drunk Drivers

Scarlett says, " I don't want to think about that now. I'll think about that tomorrow."

The voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one's awareness.

Rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive.

Joe is nervous about his new job and yells at his wife. On his way home, he stops and buys her some flowers.

Symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that one finds intolerable.