Defense Mechanisms精选.pptVIP

Defense Mechanisms Within Modern Psychology Dr Simon Boag C3A 407 Ph: 9850 8024 simon.boag@psy.mq.edu.au (best way to contact me) Readings (Non-assessable) Baumeister, R. F., Dale, K. Sommer, K. L. (1998). Freudian defense mechanisms and empirical findings in modern social psychology. Journal of Personality, 66, 1081-1124. Cramer, P. (2000). Defense mechanisms in psychology today: Further processes for adaptation. American Psychologist, 55, 637-646. Outline (i) The concept of ‘defense’ Psychological defenses defence mechanisms Basis of defensiveness (ii) Types of Defence Coping (iii) Empirical Evidence of Defences (iv) Application (v) Criticisms problems Learning outcomes Understand explain the concept of psychological defence Appreciate explain the basis of defense Identify some of the defense mechanisms within both psychodynamic socio-cognitive accounts Appreciate unresolved issues within the study of defence What do we mean by ‘defence’ ‘defence mechanisms’? ‘Defense’: protection from attack Medical: body’s reaction against disease etc Evolution: Environmental/survival adaptive mechanisms (behavioural) Responding to threats: Arousal; Fight or flight; Avoidance Psychological Defences (i) “Group of operations aimed at the reduction elimination of any change liable to threaten the integrity stability of the bio-psychological individual” (Laplanche Pontalis, 1974, p. 103) What does this actually mean? ‘Group of operations’ (actions/responses) Very broad ie. any response to threat Psychological Defences (ii) “Defences are unconscious mental processes instituted by the ego to ward off painful affects such as anxiety depression. They arise out of intrapsychic conflict” (Willick, 1995, p. 485). Unconscious? Automatic? Means of managing ‘psychical conflict’ painful affects Cognitive dissonance (Festinger, 1957) Basis of Defensiveness “The nervous system has the most decided inclination to a flight from pain’ (Freud, 1895, p. 307) General tendency to avoid p