Denial

Failure to admit the existence or true nature of emotionally threatening information

After buying a house in an earthquake-prone area, a person denies the existence of valid scientific evidence showing that an earthquake is likely to strike.

Repression

Failure to remember anxiety-provoking information about one’s past

An adult does not recall an emotionally disturbing event from childhood.

Rationalization

Formulating a logical reason or excuse that hides one’s true motives or feelings

After being turned down for a date, you say you weren’t really attracted to the person anyway.

Projection

Concluding that other people possess undesirable qualities that actually exist in oneself

A hostile, aggressive person starts a fight with someone but blames the other person for initiating it.

Reaction formation

Expressing thoughts and behaviors that are the opposite of one’s true motives

You are extremely friendly and generous toward someone you actually dislike.

Sublimation

Expressing socially undesirable motives in a socially acceptable form

A person releases aggressive energy by taking a class in martial arts.

Displacement

Redirecting mental energy from a threatening target to an unrelated and less threatening target

An employee angry at his or her boss yells at family members, thus redirecting the anger to them.