Personality and defense mechanisms

Theories of personality and the defense mechanisms, from immature to mature.

4 pages

Concept

• Defense mechanisms: what they are and how they are rankedDefense mechanisms are automatic, mostly unconscious ways the mind protects itself from anxiety…
• Immature defense mechanismsImmature defenses calm anxiety by blaming others, acting it out or splitting people into all…
• Neurotic and mature defense mechanismsNeurotic defenses keep a feeling out of view; mature ones accept it and put it to good use, like…

Theory

• Personality: traits, the Big Five and Freud's modelsPersonality is a person's lasting pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving; today it is…

A to Z

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← Medical psychology and behavioral science

Educational content on behavior and the clinical relationship; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for assessment by a health professional. If you or someone near you is at risk, seek help now from an emergency service or a mental-health helpline.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.