Defence mechanism (Adjustment mechanism)

Defence mechanism (Adjustment mechanism) Education Psychology (BEd)

1. Suresh Babu G Assistant Professor CTE CPAS Paippad , Kottayam Defence mechanism

2. Defence Mechanism (Adjustment Mechanism) A defence mechanism is an unconscious psychological strategy adopted by individual to tackle a frustrating situation. It may be defined as any habitual method of overcoming blocks, reaching goals, satisfying motives, relieving frustration and maintaining equilibrium. Defence mechanisms are protective devices which an individual may resort for safeguarding him against psychological dangers and distress .

3. Defence Mechanisms

4. Aggression refers to forceful attacking activity that can be in the form of physical, verbal or symbolic or all the three. It arises from frustration. There are two type of aggression Extrapunitive – individual aggressively attitudes frustration to another person or object. I ntropunitive - individual attitudes frustration to himself Aggression

5. Teacher should not repress all hostile and aggressive feelings of the child as it lead to anxiety and neurosis. Help the child to adopt socially acceptable channels such as athletic contests, finger painting, dramatic plays etc. Give importance to smile , empathy etc Aggression – role of teacher

6. This is a mechanism in which an individual tries to balance or cover-up his deficiency in one field by exhibiting his strength in another field . It is a process of substitution of achievement. Eg : A boy who fails in academic subject may save his self-esteem by distinguishing himself in athletics . Compensation

7. Help pupils to find activities in which they can excel and thus compensate for weakness they may possesses Help for select socially approved compensation. Academic pursuit may be encouraged as a compensatory device . Provide Co-curricular activities Compensation - role of teacher

8. Identification consists of adopting the feelings, attitudes and achievements of others as one’s own. Here an individual seeks satisfaction in associating himself in some way with the success of others. Eg : Children often identify themselves with parents, film stars, cricket players or political leaders. Identification

9. Teacher should provide worthwhile models. The teacher himself should be an exemplary model of socially approved behavior. Direct the identifying behavior towards success of children. Should watch the adolescents, they are not exploited by any anti-social group Identification - role of teacher

10. Projection is the mechanism through which the individual perceives in others , the undesirable motives and traits which he himself possess. Here the individual judges others by himself Eg : a dishonest person assumes that all others are dishonest. Projection

11. Learn to take responsibilities Give group activities and give responsibility for each Train to not to blame others Projection - role of teacher

12. This is a face-saving device by which the individual justifies his short-comings , failure and incompetence by giving false reasons. This reduce his guilt feeling and restores his ego. It is of mainly two forms 1. Sour grapism 2. Sweet lemonism Rationalization

13. Give proper situation to realize the reality Give opportunity to do enjoyable work without rationalization Avoid situations Rationalization - role of teacher

14. Negativism is a type of defiant behavior in which there is active refusal to carry out requests. This is a mechanism by which an individual draws the attention of others. Such people do not oppose, but they do resist suggestion by others. Negativism I resist your suggestion

15. Avoid situations that are known to produce conflict. Do not make issues of minor sources of disagreement. Reward positive behavior when it occurs. The should change his own behavior and attitude based on challenges. Negativism - role of teacher

16. It means retreating from situations which cause difficulties or refusing to face problems to avoid the danger of failure and hence the possible frustration. Day-dreaming, becoming sleepy or drowsy, using narcotics etc are examples Withdrawal

17. Give hope of success to students. To make students able to tolerate failure Try to encage students which they show withdrawal tendency. Give praise in each success. Withdrawal - role of teacher

18. It is defined as unconscious back tracking, either in memory or behavior, which might have been successful in the past. Slipping to an earlier stage of development when face with stress It is a mechanism of escape from reality by returning to behavior appropriate at an earlier age. Eg : an adolescent girl who has been frustrated her needs may cry like a child Regression

19. Give emotional control. Give task based on age of student. Give leadership training etc. Regression - role of teacher

20. It is a mental mechanism by which an individual forgets by pushing down into the unconscious any thoughts that arouse anxiety. It is an unconscious process wherein painful experience, shameful thoughts, guilt-laden memories or unfulfilled wishes are removed from conscious mind to unconscious mind. Repression

21. Give freedom in school to express students feelings Give proper guidance Emotional control Repression - role of teacher

22. It is also called reversal formation. It is to substitute opposite reaction formation, which causes anxiety. The boy frightened by graveyard, whistles happily, an extremely aggressive man, afraid of his own destructive impulses, acts humble. Reaction Formation

23. It is a sort of imagination which can provide an escape from frustration by giving us imaginary satisfaction Fantasy is a mechanism of wishful thinking and important for creative thinking Fantasy

24. Give creativity enabling works Co-curricular activity Bring him from dream to reality Fantasy - role of teacher

25. Sublimation involves a process of redirecting the socially unacceptable desires along desirable channels. It means acceptance of socially approved substitute goal for a drive whose channel of expression is blocked. Eg : an unmarried woman interested in children may give expression to her repressed maternal urges by becoming a nurse Sublimation

26. Co-curricular activities in school Encourage for work together and find the desirable goals Help for reach the goal Sublimation - role of teacher

27. Lying Stealing Temper Tantrums Aggression Withdrawal Shyness Truancy Adjustment problems in children