so. This can’t be happening.” Examples include refusing to believe that the car is
out of gas, that one has a serious illness, or that a cherished dream will never come
true. Denial is a primitive mechanism, often used by toddlers and preschoolers.
Four-year-old Oscar is told the family can’t go on a picnic because it is raining.
He looks out the window and says, “It’s going to stop pretty soon.” The observa-
tion may be made without any objective evidence that the sky is clearing.
Repressiontakes place when the ego pushes down unpleasant features of
one’s psychological world to an unconscious level. These typically consist of
painful childhood memories and forbidden wishes associated with sexual and
aggressive behavior. It is repression that defines the contents of the mind’s uncon-
scious domain (see chapter 1).(a) Involuntary mental acts protecting us from some of the emotional pain and damage
than can arise from coping with life are called.(b) What mental process is involved when the ego pushes down unpleasant features of one’s
psychological world to an unconscious level?Answers: (a) ego defense mechanisms; (b) Repression.Projectiontakes place when the ego perceives in the outer world what is
actually the reflection of the contents of the unconscious domain. For example,
Edith has a substantial amount of repressed hostility toward others. Polite and
highly moral, she is unable to acknowledge her aggressive impulses. Instead, she
believes that others take advantage of her and that they have designed little plots
against her.
Identificationtakes place when the ego attaches itself to a person perceived
to have a desirable attribute such as power, status, or unusual ability. For example,
forty-seven-year-old Percy is an English teacher in a high school. His ambition is
to write and sell science-fiction novels. He has read and reread the autobiography
of the famous science-fiction author Isaac Asimov, In Memory Yet Green.Percy
draws inspiration from Asimov’s life, and derives an impression that he himself is
talented as a creative writer when he mentally associates himself with Asimov.198 PSYCHOLOGY
Reality EgoDefense mechanismAn ego defense mechanism acts like a shield.