Defense Mechanisms Unconscious strategies for avoiding or reducing threatening feelings, such as fear and anxiety. The concept of the defense mechanism originated with Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and was later elaborated by other psychodynamically...

Acting Out A defense mechanism whereby an individual expresses feelings through behavior rather than word. The term American Imago 53, Fall 1996, pp....

Mechanism to protect the ego against painful...

In Freudian psychoanalytic theory, defence mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by individuals, groups and even nations to cope with reality and to maintain self-image. Healthy persons normally use different defences throughout...

In the stages of Sigmund Freud's theory, there are unconscious strategies that people use to psychologically change what is reality, into what they would like to believe. These strategies are called defense mechanisms, and in some cases may cause the person to have emotional problems and depressing behaviors. They are used by the ego to defend itself against threatening thoughts and anxiety.