ינהאַלט
In this article we will consider what are the mechanisms of psychological protection of the individual, and in general, what they are for. After all, they are present in each of us, and, in fact, perform a very important role — they protect the psyche from the adverse effects of the external environment.
אינפֿאָרמאַציע
The concept itself was introduced in 1894 by Sigmund Freud. It was he who noticed that it is natural for a person to distort reality in order to reduce the level of anxiety and a sense of insecurity. Accordingly, in addition to the main function, psychological defenses also help regulate behavior. Adapt to new conditions, cope with stress and minimize, and possibly nullify internal personal conflict.
They are not innate. Even in childhood, the baby appropriates some styles of responding to various stimuli of parents and significant people. He also develops his own styles, in connection with the situation in the family, in order to get something or even survive, save himself. At some point, they really perform a protective function. But if a person begins to “hang” on one of the species, then, accordingly, his life will gradually collapse.
This is because a one-sided response to various situations is very limiting and makes it impossible to satisfy needs. And using several at the same time will only complicate the process of understanding and finding other ways to achieve what you want.
Types of psychological protection
קראַוד אויס
That is, a process in which all unwanted information, whether thoughts, feelings or actions, both one’s own and other people’s, is simply forgotten. If it is the most frequently used, then this indicates an infantile component of the personality. Instead of coming face to face with something unpleasant, he prefers to oust it from his memory.
In the case of traumatic situations, in order to ensure the safety of the individual, repression is such a lifeline. Otherwise, without it, a person may not be able to cope with the intensity of feelings. Why, at least, will acquire a psychiatric disorder, and as a maximum — will take his own life. Therefore, the details of some situation that is abnormal for the human psyche, as it were, move from consciousness to the subconscious.
Over time, having gained strength and started working on himself, the individual has the opportunity to “pull out” fragments of the trauma in order to work through and let go of it. Otherwise, it will make itself felt at every opportunity. To break through in a dream, paying attention with the help of illnesses, new fears and constantly accompanying anxiety.
Often people resort to this mechanism in cases when they commit actions for which they are ashamed, they experience emotions that make them embarrassed and the like. The most interesting thing is that a person really sincerely does not remember what happened.
אָפּלייקענונג
The individual either refuses to believe in something that causes a lot of anxiety or pain, etc., or tries to modify the prevailing circumstances, thus distorting reality. For example, if a mother is informed of the unexpected tragic death of her baby, she, even having evidence of his death in her hands, will refuse to believe that this could happen. She will cling to any opportunity to disprove this fact.
This is because the resources of the body are not enough to come to terms with this fact. In order to minimize the threat to her life, an opportunity should be provided for the gradual realization of what happened. So usually wives or husbands do not believe in the infidelity of the second half. They carefully try to ignore all the obvious and incriminating moments of treason.
Distorting reality, denying this fact, it is easier for them to cope with the range of feelings that have arisen. But at the subconscious level, they understand everything perfectly, but they are afraid to admit it. By the way, this mechanism plays a good role in the development of the child. If, for example, the parents are divorcing and the mother is saying bad things about the father, then denial is a great way to keep the relationship with him, even if the mother is right.
סאַפּרעשאַן
A person tries to ignore disturbing thoughts and unpleasant emotions, switching attention to other stimuli. In this case, the anxiety is background, the person seems to be passionate about one thing, but feels that something is still wrong.
Sometimes such psychological protection appears because the social environment does not accept the expression of any feelings, which is why they have to be “pushed” deep into oneself. For example, a cub is not allowed to show anger. After all, “what people will say,” “it’s embarrassing,” and so on. But if he experiences it, and for the most part quite rightly, what remains for him? That’s right, suppress.
Only this does not mean that it has disappeared, just over time, he can “accidentally” break his arm. Or hurt a kitten, or suddenly say bad things to mom and fight with someone in the yard.
פּרויעקציע
A person ascribes to another person any thoughts, emotions and desires that he rejects in himself, believing that they are negative, socially condemned, etc. More noticeable in people who do not know how to recognize their needs. They take care of the other, as if compensating for the lack of care for themselves.
Let’s say a hungry mother will force the baby to have lunch, not wondering if he wants to eat at the moment. By the way, manifestations of projection are sometimes quite contradictory. People with overly prudish views on life consider the people around them to be preoccupied. And in fact, they cannot admit that they have increased sexual needs …
Projection can be not only negative moments and characteristics, but also positive ones. So people with low self-esteem admire others, believing that they themselves are not capable of such achievements and manifestations. But if I am able to notice something in another, then I also possess it.
So, if everyone around is evil, it’s worth considering, what state am I in right now? If an employee is very feminine and beautiful with envy, maybe you should take a closer look at yourself to discover your advantages?
Substitution or deflection
The features of the manifestation of flexion are that a person, due to various circumstances and internal experiences, cannot directly declare his need, satisfy it, and so on. Why does he find a way to realize it in completely different ways, sometimes paradoxical.
The most frequently observed situation is when there is no opportunity to express anger to the boss who unfairly criticized the project or deprived the bonus. Why a less dangerous object is chosen, for example, a wife or children. Then, having abused them, he will experience a slight relief, but the satisfaction will be imaginary and temporary, because, in fact, the addressee of the aggression has been changed.
Or a woman who was abandoned by her husband begins to pay maximum attention to children, sometimes “suffocating” with her love … Because of the fear of rejection, the guy does not call the girl he likes on a date, but gets drunk, seizes feelings or goes with another, less “dangerous” …
Reasonably used when there is a need for self-preservation. It is simply important to monitor and be aware of this mechanism in order to choose less traumatic paths. For example, if an employee expresses anger to the manager, he risks being left without work, but a wife with children is not an option either, it is safer to get rid of aggression with a punching bag. Yes, just running on the site in the evening to relieve stress.
ראַציאָנאַליזאַטיאָן
Often used by people who were not taught in childhood to recognize their emotions. Or perhaps they are so strong and traumatic that the only way out is insensitivity and an intellectual explanation of some desires and actions.
For example, in order to simply allow oneself to fall in love, to get closer to another, to open up to him, to experience a whole range of real, lively emotions, a person “leaves” into rationalization. Then the whole process of falling in love, as it were, depreciates. After all, following his thoughts, the candy-bouquet period lasts about two weeks, then people get to know each other better and are sure to be disappointed. Then various crises follow, and this leads to pain and devastation …
ראַגרעשאַן
With the help of regression, the individual gets the opportunity to avoid experiencing excessively saturated feelings, returning to the previous stages of his development. You know that in the course of life we develop, figuratively taking a step forward with the acquisition of new experience.
But sometimes there are situations when it is difficult to stay in the same place, and it is worth going back a little in order to make significant progress later. An example of reasonable, healthy regression is when a woman who has experienced violence seeks a place to feel like she is in the womb. Where it was safe to calm down, so he hides in a closet or curls up and spends days, weeks in this position until he gains strength.
From the outside, it seems that such psychological protection is abnormal behavior, but in order not to break down, it is important for the psyche to return it to the prenatal period. Since she does not have the strength to react in the usual way. A child who has a brother or sister is born, watching how the parents take care of the newborn, begins to behave like a baby. And even if such a regression makes parents angry, during this period it is important for him to feel that he is still loved and significant.
Therefore, it is worth shaking him on the handles, then he will complete some important process for himself and say “enough, I’m an adult”, continuing development, which corresponds to his age. But sometimes people get stuck in regression. Why do we observe infantile fifty-year-old women and men who cannot take responsibility, thirty-year-old «boys» who continue to play war games and so on.
Reactive education
Generates, so to speak, paradoxical behavior, it is also called counter-motivated. This means that the person experiences a lot of anger, but behaves emphatically politely, even sugary. Or he is afraid of his homosexual desires, which is why he becomes an ardent fighter for heterosexual relationships.
Most often, it is formed against the background of guilt, especially if they are trying to manipulate it. The so-called “victim” gets annoyed with the manipulator, but does not realize why, therefore he thinks that he is somehow unreasonably angry, and it’s ugly and so on, therefore he is “led” and tries to “appease” him.
ינטראָדזשעקטיאָן
The complete opposite of the projection, and means that the person lives, as it were, with the image of a significant person “embedded” inside himself, or even more than one. Children learn how to live, focusing initially on their parents. This helps them to distinguish between what is good and what is bad and how to act in certain circumstances.
Only now the image can be so «stuck» that, already as an adult, such a person will sometimes continue to «hear», for example, his mother’s voice, and make choices in life in accordance with it. Or, on the contrary, contrary to it, if the image is endowed with negative experiences.
By the way, signs, sayings and so on are nothing but introjection. Simply put, this is what we «swallow» from the outside, and do not work out with the help of our own experience. As a child, my grandmother used to say that only a tall man is considered handsome. If she turned out to be a significant figure in the life of her granddaughter, then, whatever one may say, she will choose only tall ones. Even despite the fact that others will like it.
Many limitations live in each of us, the nature of each can be known only if you ask yourself about the origin of this or that statement, and also, why is it for us that we still do not part.
סאָף
There are other forms of psychological defense mechanisms, but here are the main and most common ones. Do not forget to subscribe to the blog to be aware of new information that will be useful on the path of self-development.
If you were interested, I recommend reading the article “What is the NLP metamodel and exercises for its development”, as well as the article “Perfectionists: who they are, level definition and special recommendations”.
גוט גליק און דערגרייכונגען!