defense mechanism

defense mechanism   n.   Biology A physiological reaction of an organism used in self-protection, as against infection. Psychology Any of various usually unconscious mental processes, including denial, projection, rationalization, and repression, that protect the ego from shame, anxiety, conflict, loss of self-esteem, or other unacceptable feelings or thoughts.

defense mechanism

In psychology, a Freudian term referring to an unconscious avoidance of something that produces anxiety or some other unpleasant emotion. For example, someone who blots out the memory of a terrible accident is using a defense mechanism. Regression and sublimation are common defense mechanisms.

Main Entry: defense mechanism
Function: noun
1 : an often unconscious mental process (as repression, projection, or sublimation) that makes possible compromisesolutions to personal problems
2 : a defensive reaction by an organism

defense mechanism n.

1. Any of a variety of usually unconscious mental processes used to protect oneself from shame, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, conflict, or other unacceptable feelings or thoughts, and including behaviors such as repression, projection, denial, and rationalization.

2. See immunological mechanism.