An introductory text reads, 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.
The first section shows a photo of a woman hugging a man from behind. An arrow points from the photo through text beside it that reads ego relieves anxiety by employing a defense mechanism. The arrow points to a list of defense mechanism on the right side of the infographic. Below the first photo is a second photo which shows a woman looking down while holding the back of her neck with her right hand and her left arm crossed over her abdomen. Text above the woman reads anxiety. Three pointers labeled ego, superego, and id point toward the woman. A call out corresponding to id reads: I am physically attracted to my best friend’s boyfriend. Another call out corresponding to superego reads: how dare I? I am wrong to feel those impulses. An arrow from the woman points up to the first photo.
Text below the second photo reads, we may get better at dealing with stress and anxiety as we age. In a study comparing the use of defense mechanisms in different age groups, older participants were found to use fewer maladaptive defense mechanisms (Segal, Coolidge, and Mizuno, 2007).
The second section lists various ego defense mechanisms as follows:
SUBLIMATION - Redirecting unacceptable impulses into acceptable outlets. Example: Instead of worrying about wanting to date your best friend’s boyfriend, you use a dating app to meet other singles.
IDENTIFICATION - Unconsciously modeling our feelings or actions on the behaviors of someone we admire. Example: Admiring your best friend, and adopting her mannerisms and characteristics.
DISPLACEMENT - Shifting negative feelings and impulses to an acceptable target. Example: Being rude to someone who’s interested in you. “Sorry, I am busy tonight.”
REPRESSION - Anxiety-producing information is pushed into the unconscious. Example: Unconsciously avoiding your friend and her boyfriend in social situations.
RATIONALIZATION - Creating an acceptable excuse for an uncomfortable situation. Example: “I am a human being. Of course I feel sexually attracted to other people.”
PROJECTION - Attributing your own anxiety-provoking thoughts and impulses to someone else. Example: “What is wrong with Sara? She always seems to be checking out other people’s boyfriends.”
DENIAL - Refusing to recognize a distressing reality. Example: “I don’t like him. He’s just not my type.”
A vertical bidirectional arrow at the right varies from more adaptive at the top to less adaptive at the bottom.