Ego Defenses

3. Losing track of time or person, finding another representation of self.
6. Emphasis of a person’s needs or thoughts in a manner that is respectful, direct and firm.
8. The capacity to maintain a steady and reasonable level of positive self-regard in the face of distressing or frustrating external events.
9. Redirecting thoughts, feelings and impulses from one person or object onto another.
11. Counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other arenas.
12. Offering a different explanation for one’s perceptions or behaviors in the face of a changing reality.
14. Placing undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person.
15. Channeling unacceptable impulses, thoughts and emotions into more acceptable ones.

1. Unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feelings and impulses.
2. Parts of oneself separate from awareness of other parts.
4. Reversion to an earlier stage of development.
5. Overemphasis on thinking when confronted to help mediate and place thoughts into an emotional, human context.
7. The refusal to accept reality or fact.
10. Taking back an unacceptable or hurtful unconscious behavior or thought.
13. Performing an extreme behavior to express thoughts or feelings one is incapable of expressing.