least one problem that is related to our psychology, and it is important to try to identify and understand them because, according to the psychoanalytic theory, that is how we can start to
heal the problems Tyson, 2013:23. Psychoanalysis often involves a long series of sessions with the client in which
original causes are often searching through childhood relationships. For Freud, the purpose of psychoanalysisis to bring repressed memories, fears, and thoughts back to the conscious
level of awareness. Freud states that the ego employs a range of defense mechanism in order to deal with conflicts and problems in life. Defense mechanisms operate at an unconscious
level and help to ward off pleasant feelings or make good things feel better for the individual. The ego, driven by the id, is confined by the superego, repulsed by reality, and
struggles to master its economic task of bringing about harmony among the forces and influences working in and upon it.We can understand how it is that so often we cannot
suppress a cry life is not easy If the ego is obliged to admit its weakness, it breaks out in anxiety regarding the outside world, moral anxiety regarding the superego, and neurotic
anxiety regarding the strength of the passions in the idFreud, 1933:78. Memories are banished to the unconscious, or unacceptable drives or urges do not
disappear. They continue to exert a powerful influence on behavior. The forces, which try to keep painful or socially undesirable thoughts and memories out of the conscious mind, are
termed defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are used to protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety or guilt, which arise because we feel threatened, or because our id or
superego becomes too demanding. They are not under our conscious control, and are non- voluntaristic. With the ego, our unconsciousnessuses one or more to protect us when we
come up against a stressful situation in life. Ego-defense mechanisms are natural and PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
normal. When they get out of proportion, neuroses develop, such as anxiety states, phobias, obsessions, or hysteria.
There are numerous types of defense mechanisms. However, not all of them will be explained here.
There are nine types of Freudian defense mechanisms: Denial, Repression, Displacement, Regression, Projection, Reaction formation,
Intellectualization,Rationalization, and Sublimation. Huffman Vernoy, 2000:480.
Above all, only three defense mechanisms are reviewed here. The compilation of the
types of defense mechanisms taken from various sources is elaborated below:
a. Denial
Freud states, that there are three mental dynamicsor motivating forces that influence human behavior, namelythe id, ego, and superego. If the id were the only influence on
behavior, humans would exclusively seek to increase pleasure, decrease pain, and achieve immediate gratification of desires. The ego consists of logical and rational thinking. It
enables humans to analyze the realistic risks and benefits of a situation, to tolerate some pain for the future profit, and to consider alternatives to the impulse-driven behavior of the id.
The superego consists of moralistic standards and forms the basis of the conscience. Although the superego is essential to a sense of right and wrong, it can also include extreme
and unrealistic ideas about what one should and should not do. All these three forces have different goals id, pleasure; ego, reality; superego, morality and continually strive for
dominance, resulting in the internal conflict. This conflict produces anxiety. The ego, which functions as a mediator between the two extremes of the id and the superego, attempts to
reduce this anxiety by using defense mechanisms. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
An indirect ways of dealing or coping with anxiety, such as explaining problems away or blaming others for problems is called defense mechanism. Denial is one of many defense
mechanisms. It entails ignoring or refusing to believe an unpleasant reality. Defense mechanisms protect ones psychological wellbeing in traumatic situations, or in any situation
that produces anxiety or conflict. However, they do not resolve the anxiety-producing situation and, if overused, can lead to psychological disorder.
Many of Freud’s patients seem to be deliberately unconscious of certain painful facts. Freud decides that they are practicing denial, a defense mechanism by which the ego shuts
itself off from certain realities. Hysterical blindness is an example of denial McConell, 1980:489.
b. Repression
Freud’s concept of the division of psyche ego, superego, and id, these are entities working in a process of repression. In Beginning Theory, Peter Barry defines repression as
“…the ‘forgetting’ or ignoring of unresolved conflicts, un-admitted desires, or traumatic past events, so that they are forced out of conscious awareness and into the realm of the
unconscious” Barry, 2009:92-93. Id is always considered as something which is too vulgar or not appropriate to be expressed directly. Therefore, it must be repressed so that it would
not come out in another inappropriate form. This function is run by the superego. As a result of the repression, there comes the ego as the most proper form of the expression of id.
When something in human’s mind is repressed, it does not totally disappear. “…it remains alive in the unconscious, like radioactive matter buried beneath the ocean, and
constantly seeks a way back into the conscious mind, always succeeding eventually” Barry, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
