Coping Stress Theory of Psychology
mechanism is the way in each individual to maintain and improve his self- concept, especially in the face of stress, utilizes certain types of behavior 155.
Pervin and John define that human develop defense mechanism as a way to distort reality and exclude feelings from awareness so that human beings do not feel
anxious 86. As quoted by Morris there are nine ways of defense mechanism. They are denial, repression, projection, identification, regression,
intellectualization, reaction formation, displacement, and sublimation 502-507. Denial is the refusal to acknowledge a painful or threatening reality. In
denial, we block out situation with which we can cope. Huffman states that denial is use to protect oneself from an unpleasant reality by refusing to perceive it
Huffman, 451. The other defense mechanism is repression. In repression, we block out unacceptable impulses or thoughts. As quoted by Kalish, repression
occurs when an individual is unable to recall or recognize something because of consciousness needs to deny the awareness 155.
Projection is the next defense mechanism. As quoted by Kalish, there are two types of projection occurs. First, is denying the thoughts and feelings and
attributing them to someone else; and second, is justifying the behavior by claiming that others feel the same way 157. There is other defense mechanism,
called identification. Pettijohn states that here, the person tries literally to become another’s personality by copying his behavior in every conditions experienced
425-431. Identification often used as a form of self-defense in situations where a person feels utterly helpless.
The next defense mechanism is regression. As quoted by Pervin and John, regression means going back to an earlier and less mature pattern of
behavior 86-95. As quoted by Kasschau, when a person is under severe pressure and his other defenses are not working, he may start acting in ways that helped
him in the past 274. Kalish states that intellectualization is defense mechanism in which people withdraw from the emotional impact of frustration or anxiety
159. Reaction formation is defense mechanism in which people express with exaggerated intensify ideas and emotion that are the opposite of their own.
The other defense mechanism is displacement. Displacement is the redirection of represses motives and emotion from their original object to
substitute object. The last defense mechanism is sublimation. As quoted by Pervin and John, sublimation is defense mechanism in which the original expression of
the instinct is replaced by a higher cultural goal. In sublimation, the original object of significant is replaced by a higher cultural goal, one further removed from
direct expression of the instinct. Theory of coping stress is used to identify how the main characters defend themselves from the absence of love to be survived in
their life.