According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory they are unconscious strategies to help people cope with reality and maintain self-image. It is also used as a refuge from anxiety and situations that the individual can't currently cope with.
Vailllant (1977) categorised defence mechanisms. There are 4 categories within this theory:
- Level I - pathological defenses (i.e. psychotic denial, delusional projection)
- Level II - immature defenses (i.e. fantasy, projection, passive aggression, acting out)
- Level III - neurotic defenses (i.e. intellectualization, reaction formation, dissociation, displacement, repression)
- Level IV - mature defenses (i.e. humor, sublimation, suppression, altruism, anticipation)
Some people have more defence mechanisms that others. I know that I have quite a few that people have made me aware of over the years, mainly from levels 3 and 4. However everyone has these to varying degrees. If you would like to know more see
Wikipedia's page on the subject
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