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a usually unconscious mental process that serves to relieve conflict and anxiety arising from one's impulses and drives, e.g., compensation, conversion, denial, rationalization, repression.Medical dictionary. 2011.
defense mechanism — n. 1. any self protective physiological system or reaction of an organism 2. Psychiatry any thought process, as repression, introjection, or sublimation, unconsciously used by an individual as a defense against feelings of guilt, anxiety, shame,… … English World dictionary
defense mechanism — noun (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires • Syn: ↑defense reaction, ↑defence mechanism, ↑defence reaction, ↑defense, ↑defence • Topics: ↑psychia … Useful english dictionary
defense mechanism — 1. Physiol. the defensive reaction of an organism, as against a pathogenic microorganism. 2. Psychol. an unconscious process, as denial, that protects an individual from unacceptable or painful ideas or impulses. [1890 95] * * * In psychoanalytic … Universalium
defense mechanism — defense′ mech anism n. psl an unconscious process that protects an individual from unacceptable or painful ideas or impulses • Etymology: 1890–95 … From formal English to slang
defense mechanism — Synonyms and related words: alienation, autism, autistic thinking, avoidance, avoidance mechanism, avoidance reaction, avoiding reaction, blame shifting, block, blocking, circumvention, compensation, conversion, decompensation, defence, defense,… … Moby Thesaurus
defense mechanism — de fense ,mechanism noun count 1. ) something that happens in your mind that helps you deal with something such as a bad experience 2. ) a process in your body that prevents you from becoming sick … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
defense mechanism — noun Date: 1913 1. an often unconscious mental process (as repression) that makes possible compromise solutions to personal problems 2. a defensive reaction by an organism … New Collegiate Dictionary
defense mechanism — reaction of self protection by an organism; mental process whereby one avoids unpleasant ideas or impulses (Psychoanalysis) … English contemporary dictionary
mechanism of defense — n DEFENSE MECHANISM (1) … Medical dictionary
mechanism — [mek′ə niz΄əm] n. [ModL mechanismus < Gr mēchanē, MACHINE] 1. the working parts or arrangement of parts of a machine; works [the mechanism of a clock] 2. a) a system whose parts work together like those of a machine [the mechanism of the… … English World dictionary
