Showing posts with label Negative coping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Negative coping. Show all posts

Monday, January 9, 2023

Undoing in Psychology

 


Undoing is a defense mechanism in psychology where an individual tries to negate or undo a previous action or thought by performing a new behavior that is the opposite of the previous one. It is often used to alleviate feelings of guilt, anxiety, or shame caused by a particular thought or action. For instance, if someone engages in dishonest behavior, they may try to undo it by performing an act of honesty or charity.

 Undoing is a Level 6 Defense Mechanism.

An example of undoing in a religious context is a person who regularly attends religious services but also engages in immoral behavior. To counteract their immoral actions, they may engage in religious rituals or acts of penance to undo their wrongdoing and restore a sense of moral purity.

 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), undoing is classified as a defense mechanism that falls under the category of "unconscious strategies that distort reality in order to reduce anxiety, guilt, or shame" (APA, 2017, p. 652). It is considered a maladaptive coping mechanism because it does not address the underlying issue and can lead to repeated negative behaviors.

 

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2017). APA dictionary of psychology (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/15916-000


Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.


Splitting in Psychology

 



Splitting refers to splitting one’s self-image or that of others into all good or all bad images, which avoid a realistic appraisal of positive and negative images. 

The split is evident in such desirable qualities as kind, loving, powerful, worthy and so forth. The negative descriptions reflect contradictions such as hateful, vulnerable, and unworthy. The positive and negative views may be applied to oneself or someone else. Splitting protects against feelings of anxiety caused by mentioning negative qualities about oneself or others and thereby ruining a positive image. The inability to present a cohesive image interferes with adapting to reality and leads to unpredictability when the person flips from all positive to all negative characterizations.

Splitting is a Level 2 Defense Mechanism.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 


Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.

Regression in Psychology

 


Regression is a strategy of dealing with a distressful experience by reacting similarly to the way they responded during childhood. Adults may respond to their parents in a childlike manner. Religious people may avoid distressful experiences by becoming dependent on a deity as if they were children relying on the protection of trustworthy parents.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation. 


Repression in Psychology

 


Repression is an unconscious blocking of distressing memories from awareness. This is thought to operate in victims of trauma. Unfortunately, some clinicians falsely assumed patients were repressing abuse and made false allegations, which destroyed the lives of innocent victims. See the book, The Myth of Repressed Memory, for more details.

Repression is a Level 5 Defense Mechanism.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.


Reaction Formation in Psychology

 


Reaction Formation is a strategy of replacing a response to anxiety producing thoughts and feelings with their opposite. A person who intensely dislikes a person may become overly kind and solicitous toward them. Boys and men who feel insecure in their strength may become overly aggressive to prove their manhood.

Reaction Formation is a Level 5 Defense Mechanism.

 

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.

Rationalization in Psychology

 


Rationalization is the use of reasoning to justify behavior considered unacceptable according to one’s personal moral code or the norms of their group. People offer a variety of reasons to justify theft, sexual infidelity, obnoxious behavior under the influence of substances, and so forth. When events threaten the identity of the faithful and cause distress, religious leaders may offer various reasons why available evidence does not support a doctrine, theological belief, or prophecy.

Rationalization is a Level 3 Defense Mechanism.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 


Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.

Projective Identification in Psychology

 


Projective Identification misattributes unacceptable feelings or impulses to someone else. 

People who deploy projective identification confuse their actual role as causal agent of the projected content. When acting in response to the projected material, the person may cause the target person to react as if they really caused the conflict. Projective Identification is a more complex process than is simple projection.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.


Projection in psychology

 


Projection is attributing a negative quality about oneself to someone else. A person who is unhappy with their appearance is highly critical of the appearance of others. A clergyman preaches against pornography as if he were bolstering out of his discomfort with his inability to resist porn. In romantic relationships, partners may blame the other for their own flaws. 

Projection is a Level 3 Defense Mechanism.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.


Passive aggression in Psychology

 


Passive-aggressive strategies appear to help people avoid the perceived effect of an outright conflict that might ensue if they were to be blunt or forthright in expressing their hostility or true feelings. Passive aggression may lead to covert aggression as in harmful gossip and other microaggressions.

Passive-aggressive is a Level 1 Defense Mechanism.

Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.


Omnipotence in Psychology

 

Omnipotence*


Omnipotence defends against stressors and conflicts by acting superior to others in terms of power, status, or ability. Self-esteem is bolstered by the contrast with feelings or experiences of disappointment or worthlessness. The distortion in self-evaluation is obvious to others.

Omnipotence is a Level 4 Defense Mechanism.


Resources

A- Z List of Defense Mechanisms with descriptions

 

Psychotic Defense Mechanisms described

 

Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales

            Form Self-Report 30

            Q-Sort Version

 Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.

Image: Omnipotence created by Geoffrey W. Sutton in DALL.E