Everyone uses defense mechanisms, and if you believe Freud, everyone has to, in order to avoid staring in the face of our worst anxieties. Even if you don’t believe Freud, it’s hard to argue with the ...

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies whereby people protect themselves from anxious thoughts or feelings. Defense mechanisms aren’t inherently bad—they can allow people to navigate painful ...

Defense mechanisms are a way for the mind to cope with stress or difficult feelings. They are unconscious mechanisms, which means that a person uses them without realizing it. Defense mechanisms can ...

Displacement is a defense mechanism that involves transferring negative feelings from one thing to another. For example, a person angry at their boss may “take out” their anger on a family member. The ...