Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies whereby people protect themselves from anxious thoughts or feelings. Defense mechanisms aren’t inherently bad—they can allow people to navigate painful ...

Defense mechanisms are a way for the mind to cope with stress or difficult feelings. They are unconscious mechanisms, which means that a person uses them without realizing it. Defense mechanisms can ...

“A fever is a coping response, not a sign of illness.” —George Vaillant Like all living systems, we human beings have evolved multiple mechanisms for defending against threats to our survival and ...