Hierarchy Of Defense Mechanism

 

Hierarchy Of Defense Mechanism

Created by Oregonleatherboy

The dark personality types amongst us are prone to using immature defense mechanisms.  Character traits of machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy all dabble in acting out, dissociation and splitting.  To what extent these traits will affect deviant characters with dark traits is unknown (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). 

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Defense Mechanisms are unconscious reactions to a perceived threat that distorts or manipulates for protection of psyche (Boag, 2012) (Burgo 2012).  Behaving on immature defense mechanism reactionary timeframe causes negative consequences for those that partake (Jonason,Baughman,Carter & Parker, 2015).

There are three groups of defense mechanisms labeled mature, neurotic and immature (Cramer, 2000).  Using moderation and logic these defenses can be flexible and adaptive reactions, such as sublimation.  Sublimation is the opposite of regression which is negative to mental health.  

instead of hiding our emotions further inside  which eventually leads to a neurotic or immature means of release.  A person sublimates the negative energy into a positive outcome resulting in either a cathartic or productive outcome.  If a person's maturity and IQ level does not suffice at maintaining a proper flow of the libido energy a neurosis may follow. (vaillant 1977, 1992)

  When a 

wish

goal

motive

desire

 or a thought

 is unacceptable or threatens the psyche through awareness it is removed. 

 Neurotical and obsessional defense mechanisms work this out in the unconscious with 

idealization 

Pseudo altruism

regression

Splitting

Task orientation

Undoing

without the assistance of the defense mechanisms and individual experiences extreme anxiety and paranoia at unbearable levels.  Immature defense mechanisms such as 'autistic daydreaming' using fantasy to block out notion.  Another example would be psychosomatic reactions or 'somatization' which is when stress results in physical ailments.

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Mature

Mature defenses help all of the desires and feelings and ideas

 thoughts to coalesce together in Union.

Neurotic

the neurotic defense mechanisms deal with it but just in a manner that they can do it one at a time.  Another way that the middle to high maturity defense mechanisms assist in the breaking down of negative energy.  

By separating certain emotions, feelings or thoughts from consciousness those intolerable aspects subconscious containment allows for resolution.  

Immature=  

"all defense belonging to action, disavowal and both image distortion defense levels"

The reason that these defense mechanisms are considered immature is because they bypass the issue completely. by removing the negative energy from awareness.  

Two subcategories

First Subcategory 

 depressive defenses 

 acting out

help rejecting 

complaining

 passive aggression

 Splitting of self-image

splitting of others image

 projective identification

 projection

 devaluation of self-image

and devaluation of others images 

 second subcategory

 non-depressive defenses 

 denial 

autistic fantasy 

idealization of self-image 

idealization of others 

omnipotence

 rationalization

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Seven hierarchical levels of defense mechanisms

high adaptive defense level 

 affiliation 

altruism 

anticipation 

humor

 self-assertion 

self-observation 

sublimation 

and suppression action

Action defense level 

acting out

 help rejecting complaining 

 passive aggression

 obsessional defense level 

isolation of affects

 intellectualization 

undoing

neurotic defense level

repression 

dissociation

 reaction formation

 displacement

 minor image distorting defense level

 devaluation of self-image 

devaluation of others image

 idealization of self-image

 idealization of others image 

omnipotence

disavowal defense level

 denial

 rationalization

 projection 

 autistic fantasy

 major image distorting defense level

 splitting of self-image

splitting of others image

projective identification

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