defense mechanism — an unconscious psychological strategy used to protect oneself from anxiety, guilt, or unacceptable thoughts
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: an unconscious psychological strategy used to protect oneself from anxiety, guilt, or unacceptable thoughts
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈfɛns ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm/
Example Sentences
- When my little brother broke my phone, his defense mechanism was to blame the cat.
- Sarcasm can be a defense mechanism people use to hide their true feelings.
- Whenever exams are mentioned, my defense mechanism activates and I suddenly want to clean my room instead of studying.
defense mechanism
NOUN[/dɪˈfɛns ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm/]
an unconscious psychological strategy used to protect oneself from anxiety, guilt, or unacceptable thoughts
When criticized, he cracks jokes — a classic defense mechanism to hide his hurt.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Defense derives from Latin defendere (to ward off, protect), combining de- (away) and fendere (to strike). Mechanism comes from Greek mēchanē (machine, device). The compound term was popularized by Sigmund Freud in psychology to describe automatic psychological processes that protect the mind from anxiety or unwanted thoughts.
Breakdown
de- (away, against) + fendere (to strike, defend) + mēchanē (machine, device) + -ism (system, process). The term conceptualizes unconscious protective strategies as automatic mechanical operations of the psyche.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“When my little brother broke my phone, his defense mechanism was to blame the cat.”
“Sarcasm can be a defense mechanism people use to hide their true feelings.”
“Whenever exams are mentioned, my defense mechanism activates and I suddenly want to clean my room instead of studying.”
“Understanding your own defense mechanisms can help you build healthier relationships.”
📚Related Words
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