Ego Defense Mechanisms RN

covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable. Ex. a physically handicapped boy is unable to participate in football, so he compensates by becoming a great scholar.

refusing to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it. Ex. a woman drinks excess alcohol every day and cannot stop, failing to acknowledge that she has a problem

the transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or that is neutral. Ex. a client is angry at his doctor, does not express it, but becomes verbally abusive with the nurse.

an attempt to increase self-worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one admires. Ex. a teenaged boy who required lengthy rehabilitation after an accident decides to become a physical therapist as a result of his experiences.

an attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logical, reasoning, and analysis. Ex. Susan’s husband is being transferred with his job to a city far away from her parents. She hides anxiety by explaining to her parents the advantages associated with the move.

integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s own ego structure. Ex. Children integrate their parents’ value system into the process of conscience formation a child says to friend, “Don’t cheat. It’s wrong.”

separating a thought or memory from the feeling tone or emotion associated with it. Ex. Without showing any emotion, a young woman describes being attacked and raped.

attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person. Ex. Sue feels a strong sexual attraction to her track coach and tells her friend, “He’s coming on to me!”

attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors. Ex. John tells the rehab nurse, “I drink because it’s the only way I can deal with my bad marriage and my worse job.”

preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors. Ex. Jane hates nursing. She attended nursing school to please her parents. During career day, she speaks to prospective students about the excellence of nursing as a career.

responding to stress by retreating to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning. Ex. When 2 yr. old Jay is hospitalized for tonsillitis he will drink only from a bottle, although his mother states he has been drinking from a cup for 6 months.

involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness. Ex. An accident victim can remember nothing about the accident.

rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive. Ex. A mother whose son was killed by a drunk driver channels her anger and energy into being the president of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

the voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness. Ex. Scarlet O’Hara says, “I don’t want to think about that now. I’ll think about that tomorrow.

symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that one finds intolerable. Ex. Joe is nervous about his new job and yells at his wife. On his way home he stops and buys her some flowers.