Defences

Question 1

Mature Defences

Answer 1

Mature defences are adaptive mechanisms that manage impulses and emotions constructively while maintaining contact with reality and supporting healthy functioning.

Question 2

What are the main mature defences in Vaillant’s classification?

Answer 2

The mature defences include sublimation, humour, suppression, anticipation, and altruism.

Question 3

How does sublimation function as a mature defence?

Answer 3

Sublimation channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or productive outlets such as creative work, sport, or service.

Question 4

How does humour function as a mature defence?

Answer 4

Humour allows difficult feelings or conflicts to be expressed in a way that reduces tension and maintains perspective without denial.

Question 5

How does suppression function as a mature defence?

Answer 5

Suppression involves consciously choosing to delay dealing with a conflict or emotion until a more appropriate time.

Question 6

How does anticipation function as a mature defence?

Answer 6

Anticipation involves realistically planning for future discomfort or potential stress, allowing for emotional preparation.

Question 7

How does altruism function as a mature defence?

Answer 7

Altruism transforms personal conflict or drive into concern for others, gaining satisfaction from giving or helping.

Question 8

Neurotic Defences

Answer 8

Neurotic defences partially distort reality to reduce anxiety but still allow reasonably effective functioning; they are common in adults under stress.

Question 9

What are the main neurotic defences in Vaillant’s model?

Answer 9

The neurotic defences include repression, displacement, reaction formation, intellectualisation, and undoing.

Question 10

How does repression function as a neurotic defence?

Answer 10

Repression unconsciously excludes distressing thoughts, impulses, or memories from awareness to reduce anxiety.

Question 11

How does displacement function as a neurotic defence?

Answer 11

Displacement redirects emotions from a threatening object to a safer one, such as venting frustration on a friend after criticism at work.

Question 12

How does reaction formation function as a neurotic defence?

Answer 12

Reaction formation replaces an unacceptable impulse with its opposite, such as acting overly kind toward someone you resent.

Question 13

How does intellectualisation function as a neurotic defence?

Answer 13

Intellectualisation uses abstract thinking or reasoning to avoid confronting emotional aspects of a conflict.

Question 14

How does undoing function as a neurotic defence?

Answer 14

Undoing attempts to cancel out or reverse an unacceptable thought or act through symbolic behaviour or apology.

Question 15

Immature Defences

Answer 15

Immature defences significantly distort reality and interfere with emotional growth and relationships; they are common in adolescence and some personality disorders.

Question 16

What are the main immature defences according to Vaillant?

Answer 16

The immature defences include denial, projection, splitting, acting out, passive aggression, somatisation, and fantasy.

Question 17

How does denial function as an immature defence?

Answer 17

Denial refuses to acknowledge painful external realities or facts that provoke anxiety.

Question 18

How does projection function as an immature defence?

Answer 18

Projection attributes one’s own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person.

Question 19

How does splitting function as an immature defence?

Answer 19

Splitting views people or situations as entirely good or entirely bad, preventing integration of positive and negative aspects.

Question 20

How does acting out function as an immature defence?

Answer 20

Acting out expresses unconscious conflict or feelings through impulsive action rather than reflection or verbal expression.

Question 21

How does passive aggression function as an immature defence?

Answer 21

Passive aggression expresses anger or resentment indirectly through procrastination, stubbornness, or subtle obstruction.

Question 22

How does somatisation function as an immature defence?

Answer 22

Somatisation converts emotional distress into physical symptoms or complaints.

Question 23

How does fantasy function as an immature defence?

Answer 23

Fantasy involves escaping from reality into imagination or daydreams instead of addressing actual problems.

Question 24

Psychotic Defences

Answer 24

Psychotic defences grossly distort or deny external reality and are usually seen in psychotic conditions or extreme stress.

Question 25

What are the main psychotic defences in Vaillant’s classification?

Answer 25

The psychotic defences include delusional projection, psychotic denial, and distortion.

Question 26

How does delusional projection function as a psychotic defence?

Answer 26

Delusional projection attributes imaginary persecutory or grandiose beliefs to others, severely distorting reality.

Question 27

How does psychotic denial function as a psychotic defence?

Answer 27

Psychotic denial completely rejects reality despite overwhelming evidence, as seen in psychotic disorders.

Question 28

How does distortion function as a psychotic defence?

Answer 28

Distortion grossly reshapes external reality to meet internal needs or fantasies, detaching the person from factual reality.