defense mechanism
10
5.3
- noun
- /dɪˈfɛns ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm/
- Specialized
:
mecanismo de defensa
- She developed a defense mechanism to cope with her anxiety during stressful situations.
- psychological defense mechanism
- ego defense mechanisms
There's a lot of defence mechanisms that we all use regularly.
- There's a lot of defence mechanisms that we all use regularly.
- And you start micromanaging as a defense mechanism to public judgement.
- And I think that's almost a defense mechanism against not getting the big wins.
- All three of us anticipate what could go wrong as a defense mechanism.
- I use comedy as a defense mechanism.
- I, I always had humor as a defense mechanism and I had no skill sets except to be funny.
- So if you, if you could tell us how we can think about our defense mechanisms in action in a way that can improve our health.
- And I just became really hypersensitive to emotional movement in a room as a, as a defense mechanism.
- So here's the reality that I have seen in so many people's lives is that we sometimes use God as a defense mechanism.
- A lot of that was, I think, like a defense mechanism like, Oh, you smiling and happy.
Examples
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So you can see that most defense mechanisms are a mixture of costs and benefits.
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The primary defense mechanisms you relied on to get you through childhood no longer support you as an adult.
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I told myself I was at peace with my decision, but that was just a defense mechanism.
Blog text (32) -
And I know beyond a doubt that this causes people to have certain defense mechanisms.
Blog text (32) -
A person with an eating disorder is often very alone, and rejection of others is a defense mechanism.
Academic text (2015) -
His new book explores psychological defense mechanisms and how they influence our personal lives.
Blog text (4) -
Defense mechanisms, for example, could be employed to guard against the anxiety students were facing during this study.
Academic text (2007) -
I used denial as a defense mechanism, a way to preserve my ego and pride.
Blog text (26) -
Defense mechanisms are strategies for handling anxiety in which we distort or reduce our awareness.
Academic text (1991) -
Another key element is the role of defense mechanisms, which Daniel Goleman so eloquently outlined in his book, Vital Lies, Simple Truths.
Academic text (1991)
Synonyms
38
7.4
A thought or action people do without thinking to avoid strong feelings
A mental process done without thinking that reduces worry about uncomfortable feelings
A way a person thinks and acts to avoid painful feelings or reality
Antonyms
How Psychoanalytic
- Specialized
- Specialized
10
5.3
1
6.7
229
4.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'defense' (protection) with 'mechanism' (a system or means): it denotes a system/feature that protects an organism. This compositional pattern is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Defense mechanism comes from the image of a small automatic device that protects a person. Here defense means 'protection' and mechanism means 'a part that works without thinking', so it names the mental tricks people use without thinking to reduce worry.