Scientific American: Psychology

Infographic Activity

The impulsive demands of the id sometimes conflict with the moralistic demands of the superego, resulting in anxiety. When that anxiety becomes excessive, the ego works to relieve this uncomfortable feeling through the use of defense mechanisms (Freud, 1923/1960). Defense mechanisms give us a way to “defend” against tension and anxiety, but they are not always adaptive, or helpful. Defense mechanisms can be categorized ranging from less adaptive to more adaptive (Vaillant, 1992). Some defense mechanisms are more adaptive as they help us deal with our anxiety in more productive and mature ways.