Are you familiar with Freudian "defense mechanisms"? Some of them are: projection, displacement and reaction formation.

Tweet

One of the first things I lecture about in my Intro to Psychology classes is "defense mechanisms." Freud discussed them in many of his writings, and I believe it was his daughter, Anna Freud, who "catalogued" them. College students can relate to them, and see them in their friends, family, and...yes...themselves. Among the most "famous" defense mechanisms are: projection, displacement, reaction formation, and regression. Projection is when you take something you don't like about yourslf and claim it to be true of others. A friend of mine called others "cheap" alot. She was the cheapest person I've ever known. I remember that I said, at a dance (I was 19), "Everyone here is just hoping to get lucky and find that special someone." I realized only a few days later I was talking about myself. Displacement is taking something out on someone with lower power that you wish you could take out on someone with higher power. Mad at your wife/husband, kick the dog. Reaction formation is trying to be the opposite of something you fear in yourself. Research has suggested that many vehemently anti-gay people get more sexually aroused in response to h*mo-erotic literature or photographs than a control group. Another example could be a former fire-starter who become a fire safety expert or fireman. Regression is moving to an earlier stage of development when under stress. A four-year-old who starts wetting the bed after a baby brother is born may be regressing. An adult who returns to drinking or smoking after a friend or parent dies may be experiencing regression. I smoke more when I am under stress. Defense mechanisms exist to protect the "ego" (Freud) or sense of self. We all use them, but most use them sparingly, and are willing to laugh at themselves (or have useful insights) when they realize it. Many psychologists see former American President Donald Trump as a "poster boy" for the use of defense mechanisms, especially after his recent multiple indictments. The most commonly used defense mechanism by Trump is "disowning projection," where you essentially attribute everything you fear in yourself to others and vehemently deny that they exist in you. What happens, if you are involved in legal matters, is that you become a "walking confession." I watched a speech from South Dakota this morning. It had been given by Donald Trump perhaps the day before. It was incredible to see Freud, who died in 1939, I believe, so completely validated. Almost everything Trump said in his speech was disowning projection. Basically a confession of who he really is, and what he did over the past several years. I will attach a link to the speech. If it's not a live link, you can scan over it and then hit "view link," or something like that. Can you spot the other defense mechanisms he is using? Have you ever "busted" yourself using defense mechanisms? I do all the time.