Defense by type (O'Hanrahan: EM Monthly, Feb 2000

Posted by Brian(quiet day)C. on July 02, 2000 at 11:18:07:

1.Ones use reaction formation to avoid anger (i.e., direct anger) and to maintain a self-image of being
right. (Reaction formation is feeling one thing and then doing the opposite, such as feeling resentful but
acting nice.)
2.Twos use repression of personal needs and feelings to avoid being needy and to maintain a self-image
of being helpful. (Repression is putting one's "unacceptable" feelings out of awareness and converting
them into a more acceptable kind of emotional energy.)
3.Threes use identification to avoid failure and maintain a self-image of being successful. (Identification
is a kind of pervasive role playing and losing oneself in image.)
4.Fours use introjection to avoid ordinariness and maintain a self-image of being authentic.
(Introjection is both an attempt to overcome deficiency by bringing in value from outside oneself and the
habit of internalizing blame for what goes wrong.)
5.Fives use isolation to avoid emptiness and maintain a self-image of being knowledgeable. (Isolation
can be physical and geographical, but it also means being cut off from one's emotions.)
6.Sixes use projection to avoid personal rejection and to maintain a self-image of being loyal.
(Projection is a way of attributing to others what one can't accept in oneself, both positive and negative.)
7.Sevens use rationalization to avoid suffering and to maintain a self-image of being okay.
(Rationalization is a style of explaining and justifying in order to keep pain away or refuse to take
responsibility.)
8.Eights use denial to avoid vulnerability and to maintain a self-image of being strong. (Denial is a kind
of forceful re-directing of attention and feeling based on willfulness and control.)
9.Nines use narcotization to avoid conflict and to maintain a self-image of being comfortable or
harmonious. (Narcotization is using food and drink, entertainment, or simply repetitive patterns of
thinking and doing to "put oneself to sleep.")

Follow Ups:

• Please explain the word 'introjection'; I have trouble with that word. nt Tiggy 11:30:49 07/02/00 (9)
  • Wait while I turn the TV off, please....Okay, now.. Brian C. 11:51:41 07/02/00 (8)
    • So is there no difference between introjecting and internalising? nt Tiggy 14:16:16 07/02/00 (7)
      • Musings. Brian C. 15:39:54 07/02/00 (6)
        • S & I? What's that? Tiggy 17:21:30 07/02/00 (5)
          • Re: S & I? What's that? DEECEE 20:49:55 07/02/00 (4)
            • But She is! 04:07:24 07/03/00 (0)
            • Re: S & I? What's that? EVOLVING DEECEE ON SECOND THOUGHT 20:59:42 07/02/00 (2)
              • Yes, well we're not quite so imbued with psychobabble over here. nt Tiggy 21:17:41 07/02/00 (1)
                • I was being lazy and abreviated. Brian (long day here) C. 00:25:36 07/03/00 (0)

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