Psychological defense
Psychological defense (or defense mechanisms) are primarily unconscious responses that allow people to protect themselves from anxious thoughts, strong feelings or emotions, unwanted impulses, or painful memories. They are neither good nor bad. In classical psychoanalytic theory, an unconscious reaction pattern employed by the ego to protect itself from the anxiety that arises from psychic conflict. According to theories of “psychological defense,” humans are motivated to protect themselves against various types of psychological threat, including death awareness, uncertainty, and other inherently anxiety-provoking experiences. Protective mechanisms include strengthening close relationships; maintaining appraisals of self-worth, accomplishment, and agency; and cultivating meaningful views of the world.
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