Denial, substitution, projection: how the psyche protects us

Today, Freud seems to be a figure from the past and is associated primarily with the concept of libido and sexuality. However, many of his ideas have not lost their relevance.

“My students continue to study denial, projections, and other defense mechanisms, as well as the unconscious, psychosexuality, psychosomatics, transference, and countertransference. They may not know much about Freud himself, but they certainly recognize his enormous contribution to science,” writes Anthony Smith, a psychologist and professor of psychopathology at the University of Massachusetts.

In general, there are quite a few defense mechanisms, ranging from purely adaptive approaches like humor and anticipation to such specific states as repression and outright psychotic distortion. Freud, who devoted countless hours to each patient, was able to understand that the various behaviors that prevent progress in treatment are nothing more than the subconscious defense of the ego.

Let’s talk about three ways to protect.

Denial

Probably everyone knows him. Sometimes we do not believe in what is happening and say: “This could not happen to me.” This is fine. However, there are people who literally live in denial, that is, they solve serious problems by simply giving up thoughts, feelings, and obvious facts that are too hard to realize.

“While working in the detention center, I heard more than once how prisoners cling to an illusory hope with the help of saving denial,” Anthony Smith recalls. – The most incredible case that I had to deal with – a suspect in a high-profile murder case, where there were many witnesses, said: “After the trial, they will immediately let me go home. This was done by my cousin. We are similar. The lawyer said that our DNA may match, but they are keeping me here because of the evidence.

The therapist always notices denial, but it would be incorrect to call it simply a lie. This is an unconscious defense mechanism, sometimes reaching the scale of delirium. The patient himself is not aware of this. The task of a specialist is to bring a person closer to reality, at least to offer alternative ways of perception.

For those who are mentally stuck in “It couldn’t happen to me”, consider the possibility that “it” happened and should act differently. It took Dr. Smith a long time before the said prisoner even admitted that he could face a life sentence, and more or less realized that he would spend the rest of his days in prison.

Substitution

Have you come across such a harmful boss that you wished him to fall through the ground? Most likely, at work you held back, but at home in your hearts you could scream at children for no reason. This is substitution: desires are shifted from the original object to a more suitable harmless substitute.

This often happens with children who are rude to teachers. The teacher is an authoritative figure, temporarily replacing the parent, and much depends on gender. For example, a child has a tense relationship with his father, but it is not safe to argue with him, and all hidden hatred spills out on a male teacher.

Sometimes it serves a secondary purpose. Let’s say the father works the second shift, and the child does not want to cross paths with him. He learned that for impudence against the teacher, he would probably have to serve an extra hour after school, which means he would get home when his father was gone.

In such cases, in therapy, specialists help the client understand where the real problem lies and learn how to confront it.

Another example from Anthony Smith is a boy with chronically unsatisfactory behavior at school. Moreover, the aggression was directed at the teachers. The psychologist asked if he had hostile feelings towards his mother, which he never spoke about. And the boy said: he cannot forget that she did not protect him from his father when he attacked him with beatings.

Since his mother represented his only stable attachment, it was not in his interest to come into conflict with her. Therefore, he did not find a better way than to take out his resentment on those who symbolize the mother figure. Joint therapy helped to cope with the problem, during which it was possible to figure out what happened when the boy’s father was still living in the family.

Projection

If you were ashamed of something and it seemed that even strangers looked at you condemningly, this is a projection. This is the name of the state in which it seems as if others perceive us in the same way as ourselves. However, the pathological projection is “turned on” unconsciously.

Consider avoidant personality disorder as an example. Patients with this diagnosis are characterized by extremely low self-esteem, which leads to social avoidance. They treat themselves as the last nonentity, but hide it with all their might, afraid to lose face.

Projections are common in depressed patients who also believe that everyone treats them as badly as they treat them. With such irrational thinking, it is enough to ask for evidence that they really do not count. Almost no one succeeds.

The therapist must convey to the patient that his fears are far-fetched. He must at least admit the idea that others will be glad to accept him into their company.

Even a general knowledge of the three main defense mechanisms helps to better understand yourself and others, and also enhances the effect of therapy.