| Defense Mechanism | Description | Example |
|---|
| Repression | Unknowingly placing an unpleasant memory or thought in the unconscious | Not remembering a traumatic incident in which you witnessed a crime |
| Regression | Reverting back to immature behavior from an earlier stage of development | Throwing temper tantrums as an adult when you don’t get your way |
| Denial | Refusing to acknowledge anxiety-provoking realities | Refusing to accept evidence that your spouse is having an affair |
| Displacement | Redirecting unacceptable feelings from the original source to a safer, substitute target | Taking your anger toward your boss out on your spouse or children by yelling at them and not your boss |
| Sublimation | Replacing socially unacceptable impulses with socially acceptable behavior | Channeling aggressive drives into playing football or inappropriate sexual desires into art |
| Reaction formation | Acting in exactly the opposite way to one’s unacceptable impulses | Being overprotective of and lavishing attention on an unwanted child |
| Projection | Attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings and thoughts to others and not yourself | Accusing your boyfriend of cheating on you because you have felt like cheating on him |
| Rationalization | Creating false excuses for one’s unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or behavior | Justifying cheating on an exam by saying that everyone else cheats |