Denial is a basic defense mechanism in which individuals avoid dealing with painful information by refusing to accept reality. This response helps shield the individual from emotional distress in the short term.

Projection allows individuals to externalize their uncomfortable emotions by assigning them to someone else. This helps to reduce internal anxiety by distancing oneself from the unacceptable feelings.

Repression is an unconscious process that pushes threatening memories and thoughts out of the conscious mind. It serves as a protective barrier to prevent emotional pain from surfacing.

Sublimation channels unacceptable impulses into productive and socially appropriate activities. This mature defense mechanism not only reduces anxiety but can also result in positive outcomes.

Displacement allows a person to shift emotional reactions from a dangerous target to one that is less threatening. This mechanism helps manage anger and anxiety by avoiding direct conflict.

Displacement involves redirecting emotions from a threatening source to a safer target. In this scenario, the individual channels anger toward a less intimidating recipient, thereby reducing direct confrontation.

Rationalization involves constructing plausible explanations to justify behavior that is actually driven by unconscious impulses. This mechanism masks the true motives and reduces feelings of guilt or anxiety.

Reaction Formation involves adopting behaviors that are directly opposite to one's actual feelings. This overcompensation helps to conceal the true, often anxiety-provoking, emotions.

Intellectualization allows individuals to manage emotional distress by focusing on logical analysis rather than feelings. By distancing themselves from the emotional components, they reduce the impact of anxiety.

Regression is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage. In stressful situations, this can provide temporary comfort by returning to a time perceived as safer.

Undoing is an act in which a person tries to reverse or negate their previous actions or thoughts. This symbolic reversal is used to alleviate feelings of guilt or anxiety associated with the original behavior.

Reaction Formation leads an individual to express the opposite emotion of what they truly feel. By insisting the remark was harmless, the person is masking their hurt feelings through overtly positive behavior.

Suppression is a deliberate, conscious effort to set aside or postpone thoughts that cause discomfort. Unlike repression, which is unconscious, suppression is an active choice to focus on other matters.

Passive-aggressive behavior is a defense mechanism where individuals indirectly express resistance or hostility. In this case, procrastination and missed deadlines serve as covert ways to cope with the fear of failing.

Humor is a mature defense mechanism that helps reduce tension by finding amusement in difficult or stressful situations. It allows individuals to cope with anxiety while maintaining social appropriateness.

Identification involves unconsciously adopting the attributes of another person to cope with feelings of insecurity or inadequacy. By mirroring a parent's traits, the individual may feel a sense of belonging or validation.

Dissociation involves a detachment from reality, where the individual may blend fantasy with actual experiences to escape overwhelming stress. This protective mechanism helps reduce the emotional impact of distressing situations.

Somatization is the process by which psychological pain is transformed into physical symptoms. This mechanism allows individuals to express internal conflicts through bodily complaints, often bypassing direct emotional recognition.

Although humor is normally a mature defense mechanism, its excessive use can prevent proper emotional processing. By constantly diverting attention with laughter, the client may be avoiding deeper issues that require attention.

Splitting is a defense mechanism where complex individuals or situations are perceived in black-and-white terms. This oversimplified view helps manage internal conflicts by avoiding the ambiguity of mixed feelings.