Defence Mechanism

Defense is the set of operations carried out by the ego whose purpose is to reduce and eliminate any threat could jeopardize the integrity, balance and harmony of the individual biopsychological.

In general, the defense is developed by a counter-investment, in order to contain representations of the return (desires or memories) to consciousness. She also develops from an external situation can trigger an arousal incompatible with the ego ideal. The affect (unpleasant) can also be of ego defense.

The defensive process is also specified in defense mechanisms more or less integrated the ego. The defense takes often a regressive aspect, obsessive, phobic, impulsive, compulsive and operates most of the time, so deformed and unconscious. The real ego defense is the preparation / working through.

Examples of the ego defenses:

A) against external agents, threatening, physically and psychologically:
      – Aggression – against setbacks in the face of weaker objects.
      – Cowardice – front setbacks against the objects stronger.

B) rational defenses of the ego:
      – Rationalization – justifying attitudes lies would tell the ego ideal.
      - Intellectualization – excuses to avoid situations that do not want to face.
      – Performance – lies that are present as the ego would like to be and not how it is.

C) normal ego defense:
     - Production / Working-trough – The true and adequate defense of the ego.

D) Defense exercised by the super ego:
     - Carried out by compromise formation (deformation) – the dreams, the slips, the phobic neuroses, impulsive, obsessive and / or compulsive.

E) Example of instinctive defense of being:
     - The instincts of the id, the ego forced to act on an emotional level in search of homeostasis.

F) Example of Economic Defense (energy) of the ego against the instincts of the id:
     - Counter-investment.

G) Example of neurological defenses against excess excitation (quantum of affect):
     - Conversion and hysteria (neuroses of defense).

We can characterize two types of defense: the normal and pathological.