DEFENSE MECHANISMS

Course overview

ANNA FREUD DEFINED DEFENSE MECHANISMS AS "UNCONSCIOUS RESOURCES USED BY THE EGO" TO ULTIMATELY DECREASE INTERNAL STRESS. PATIENTS OFTEN DEVISE THESE UNCONSCIOUS MECHANISMS TO DECREASE CONFLICT WITHIN THEMSELVES, SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN THE SUPEREGO AND ID. PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY IS USED BY CLINICIANS TO HELP ORIENT PATIENTS TO THEIR OWN UNCONSCIOUS PROCESSES. BY RECOGNIZING AND IDENTIFYING THESE PROCESSES, PATIENTS IMPROVE THEIR SELF-AWARENESS AND GAIN A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN BEHAVIORS. THIS ACTIVITY DEFINES MAJOR DEFENSE MECHANISMS TO INCREASE A CLINICIAN'S UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PATIENTS DURING PATIENT ENCOUNTERS.