Psychological resistances and defenses
“People, they are like hedgehogs - they also prick and snort, defending themselves...” Maria, 27 years old.
A person often has two forces: On the one hand, the desire to solve his psychological problem (even if it is not realized, nevertheless, the soul strives to solve it). And on the other hand, resistance to this solution to the problem (or resistance to psychocorrectional or psychotherapeutic help).
The fact is that any solution to a problem is often accompanied by unpleasant or even painful mental sensations. When a psychologist begins to help a person, he is forced to delve deep into the soul. The soul hurts, but psychology has not yet come up with a simple and effective pain reliever for the soul. At the initial stage, the work of a psychologist evokes in the client unpleasant emotions, traumatic memories, affects, feelings and impulses that were previously hidden in the unconscious, but in connection with psychological work begin to emerge in consciousness. Therefore, going to a psychologist for help is a courageous step. Making it unusual, painful, scary and often financially expensive. Only after several sessions does the client experience an incomparable feeling of spiritual lightness, joy and comfort. This state is so amazing that those who have experienced it stop being “afraid” of going to a psychologist.
Psychological assistance is always the work of two parties: the psychologist and the client. There are no miracles with the wave of a magic wand in psychology. Therefore, the client is required to work no less on his problem than the psychologist. Only this work is different: the psychologist is required to be attentive, competent, decisive and efficient in his work, and the client is required to be sincere, hardworking and accurate in the implementation of psychological techniques and instructions for independent work.
WITHOUT THE CLIENT'S WORK THERE WILL BE NO RESULTS FROM THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S WORK! True, the client does not require knowledge and skills, but only cooperation. But without this, a “miracle” will not happen even for the “greatest” specialist. It is impossible to FORCE a client to change. You can only ACHIEVE POSITIVE CHANGES TOGETHER.
The first difficulty on the path to getting rid of the problem is overcoming the client’s psychological resistances and defenses (in his own interests). In general terms, psychological resistances and defenses are forces in the client’s psyche that oppose the help of a psychologist and the solution of the client’s psychological problems. In fact, the client is trying to avoid mental pain because the pain will be “here and now”, and the result of help and solution to the problem is “unknown when and then”. The client who has overcome pain and fear in his soul receives a well-deserved reward: he begins to respect himself and takes the first step towards the joy of life.
Interesting articles
Family training
About the personal approach in psychology and in the practice of consulting a psychologist
Pitfalls of psychosomatics
About the fulfillment of desires
So, psychological defense protects any person from psychological pain. The cause of pain may be in the past, for example, psychological trauma, difficult memories, bitterness of loss. The reason may lie in the present: the directly occurring situation outside and current processes within the human psyche. The reason may be related to the future, for example, expectations of bad things, hypothetical fears, worries about possible events and consequences. Nature created these defenses for immediate psychological self-help (approximately as a response to physical pain, illness or injury in the body). However, psychological defenses ONLY PROTECT, BUT DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND DO NOT PROVIDE HELP. THEY HELP YOU HOLD ON UNTIL HELP COME.
If you leave a person with protection, but do not give help for a long time, then he becomes strange, inadequate, complex, etc. Because the defenses fulfilled their function: they protected from psychological pain in a difficult situation, but they did not create psychological comfort, and they are not suitable for living in a prosperous situation. It’s the same as going everywhere “in armor”: to work, on vacation, visiting friends, and sleeping in armor, and eating in armor, and showering in armor, etc. It’s inconvenient for yourself, it’s strange for those around you, it enslaves you and makes you unfree. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: IT WILL NOT CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER. YOU JUST ADJUSTED.
Typical cases after which psychological defenses and resistance appear.
1. Past psychological trauma (for example, severe stress). 2. Unpleasant memories (for example, grief from loss). 3. Fear of any failures (fear of possible failure). 4. Fear of any changes (inflexibility in adapting to new things). 5. The desire to satisfy one’s childhood needs (psychological infantilism in adults). 6. Secondary psychological benefit from one’s illness or condition (despite the obvious damage). 7. Too strict “hard” consciousness, when it punishes a person with incessant suffering for real and imaginary offenses (as a rule, the result of upbringing). 8. Reluctance to change a “comfortable” social position to an “inconvenient” one - to be active, to work on oneself, to be sexy, to be socially adaptive, to earn more, to change a partner, etc. 9. Increased level of psychological sensitivity, anxiety and neuroticism (may be a consequence of a weak type of nervous system).
In these and many other cases, a person becomes acutely sensitive to psychological pain and builds ingenious defenses to avoid psychological pain. But this doesn't solve the problem. A person lives “in armor,” often to his own detriment and for the amusement of those around him. A good psychologist helps to remove these “armor” of psychological defenses as quickly and safely as possible. The ultimate goal is to learn to live and enjoy a free life without “armor”, but maintain your security.
What are the consequences of psychological defenses if the psychological problem is not addressed?
1. First, the adaptability of behavior is lost, i.e. the person behaves inappropriately to the situation. Communicates worse. Limits his lifestyle, or he becomes very specific, strange. 2. Further maladjustment increases. Psychosomatic diseases (diseases the root cause of which is emotional trauma) may occur. Internal tension and anxiety increase. The life scenario begins to obey psychological protection from mental pain: a certain type of hobby, hobby, profession. 3. Lifestyle becomes a form of “painless self-psychotherapy.” A protective lifestyle becomes extremely important for a person. Thus, there is a constant denial of problems and aggravation of maladaptation and psychosomatic diseases.
What are the psychological defenses?
1. Channeling aggression towards other people (in verbal or behavioral form). Taking aggression out on other people can be not only a “bad habit” and “pedagogical neglect” in an adult, but also paradoxically indicate hidden insecurity and a hidden sense of guilt.
2. Repression – pushing painful memories and feelings, impulses from consciousness deep into the unconscious. The person simply “forgot”, “didn’t have time”, “didn’t do it”. So sometimes some raped women sincerely “forget” about this incident after a few years.
3. Denial - deliberately ignoring painful realities and acting as if they do not exist: “didn’t notice,” “didn’t hear,” “didn’t see,” “not urgent,” “I’ll put it off for later,” etc. A person ignores obvious reality and creates for himself an imaginary reality in which troubles do not exist. For example, the main character of the novel “Gone with the Wind,” Scarlett, said to herself: “I’ll think about it tomorrow.”
4. Formation of opposite reactions - exaggeration of one emotional aspect of the situation in order to use it to suppress the opposite emotion. For example, to be extremely punctual, but in fact the desire to be free with time. This happens, for example, with obsessive-compulsive neurosis (obsessive-compulsive neurosis).
5. Transfer (transfer, movement) – change of the object of feelings (transfer from a real, but subjectively dangerous object to a subjectively safe one). An aggressive reaction to a strong person (for example, to a boss) is transferred from a strong person, who cannot be punished, to a weak one (for example, to a woman, a child, a dog, etc.). (The Japanese used this mental protection in the invention of punching dolls that replaced the boss). It is possible to transfer not only aggression, but also sexual desire, or even both sexual desire and aggression. A typical example is the transfer of sexual desire and aggression towards the psychotherapist, instead of expressing these emotions to the real object that caused these feelings.
6. Reverse feeling - a change in impulse, its transformation from active - into passive (and vice versa) - or a change in its direction (to oneself from another, or to another from oneself), for example, sadism - can turn into masochism, or masochism - into sadism.
7. Suppression (for example, with fears and phobias) - limiting thoughts or actions in order to avoid those that can cause anxiety and fears. This mental protection gives rise to various personal rituals (an amulet for an exam, certain clothes for self-confidence, etc.).
8. Imitation (identification with the aggressor) – imitation of what is understood as the aggressive manner of external authority. Children criticizing their parents in their own aggressive manner. Imitate the behavior of your boss at home with your family.
9. Asceticism – denying oneself pleasures with an air of one’s own superiority.
10. Rationalization, (intellectualization) - excessive reasoning as a way of experiencing conflicts, long discussion (without experiencing the affect associated with the conflict), a “rational” explanation of the reasons for what happened, which in fact has nothing to do with a rational explanation.
11. Isolation of affect - almost complete suppression of feelings associated with a particular thought.
12. Regression – psychological return to an early age (crying, helplessness, smoking, alcohol and other infantile reactions)
13. Sublimation - transfer of one type of psychic energy into another: sex - into creativity; aggression - into political activity.
14. Splitting is an inadequate separation of positive and negative in assessments of oneself and others, the inner world and the external situation. Often there is a sharp change in “+” and “-” assessments of oneself and others, assessments become unrealistic and unstable. They are often opposites, but exist in parallel. “On the one hand, of course... and on the other hand, undoubtedly...”
15. Devaluation - reducing the important to a minimum and contemptuously denying it. For example, denial of love.
16. Primitive idealization - exaggeration of the power and prestige of another person. This is how idols are created.
17. Omnipotence is an exaggeration of one’s own power. Bragging about your connections, influential acquaintances, etc.
18. Projection – endowing another person with one’s own psychological characteristics. Attributing one's own desires, emotions, etc. to another. For example: “Now anyone is ready to walk over corpses for money and power!”
19. Projective identification is a projection onto another, over whom the person then tries to establish control. For example, projecting one's hostility onto others and expecting the same from them.
20. Repression – suppression of desires (one’s own or others’).
21. Escapism – avoidance of a painful situation. This can manifest itself literally, i.e. behaviorally - a person can physically run away from a situation (from communication, from a meeting), or maybe indirectly - avoid certain topics of conversation.
22. Autism – deep withdrawal into oneself (exit from the “game of life”).
23. Reactive education - replacing a behavior or feeling with the opposite behavior or feeling as a reaction to severe stress.
24. Introjection is the uncritical assimilation of other people’s beliefs and attitudes.
25. Fanaticism is an imaginary fusion of the desired and the actual.
This is not a complete list of all psychological defenses, but these are the most striking and common reactions. In any case, these reactions do not free a person from a psychological problem, but only temporarily protect them and make it possible to “psychologically survive” in a critical situation. If you have discovered these psychological defenses in yourself, your loved ones or friends, there is reason to think about how constructive the behavior of this person is. It is quite possible that by putting on the “armor” of psychological defenses, he deprives himself of spiritual comfort and joy of life.
Most likely, the attention, care and competence of a good psychologist can help this person achieve the fulfillment of his deepest desires.
© Authors Igor and Larisa Shiryaev. The authors provide advice on issues of personal life and social adaptation (success in society). You can read about the features of the analytical consultation “Successful Brains” by Igor and Larisa Shiryaev on the CONSULTATION page.
Analytical psychological consultation with Igor and Larisa Shiryaev. You can ask questions and schedule a consultation by phone. E-mail We will be glad to help you!
Tags: articles on psychology
What is internal resistance
Many people want to become better, but only a few succeed: 96% of people fail this mission 96% of people fail when they try to better themselves - here are 3 ways to make sure you don't.
You can gather reasons not just for an article, but for a research paper. One of the main ones is internal resistance. This term is used by psychoanalysts and cognitive behavioral therapists An Analysis of Resistance to Change Exposed in Individuals' Thoughts and Behaviors, and HR specialists Resistance to Organizational Changes: Psychological Causes and Organizational Conditions. Without delving into the weeds, it denotes a powerful invisible barrier that prevents a person from changing something in his life, makes him sit back, be stubborn, fall into denial, and close himself off during therapy (if he goes to a psychologist).
We encounter this phenomenon all the time. In everyday life, everything looks something like this. A person decided to go in for sports, set a goal for himself, made a training plan, bought a comfortable and beautiful uniform, didn’t forget about dumbbells and a mat, got fully motivated after seeing enough photos of beautiful toned bodies. Perhaps he even managed to practice two or three times. But then that’s it. It’s as if something invisible is pulling you back and doesn’t allow you to do anything, despite all the “I want”, “I have to” and other arguments of reason.
Some people think it’s laziness, others blame weak motivation. But in fact, it is our brain and subconscious that resist change with all their might.
How does resistance manifest itself?
- Silence.
The client does not know what to talk about or deliberately falls silent. At this moment, you can pay attention to non-verbal signs: the client’s posture, position of the hands, head, facial expressions, vegetative manifestations (blushing, sweating).
- Inconsistency between words and emotions.
The client tells a very exciting situation, but without expressing emotion. The words are dry, boring, monotonous.
And, conversely, when an ordinary story is accompanied by an overly emotional response.
- Inconsistency between words and body.
An emotional story is accompanied by a closed, stiff posture and vice versa.
- Fixation in time.
The client tells his story consistently, without being distracted by the past and present.
And, conversely, when the client talks only about the present, avoiding topics of the past.
- Little things or external events
The client is distracted by unimportant details, detailed descriptions of small things.
Or the client talks about global topics (politics, economics, etc.) that do not lead to a personal story.
- Avoiding Topics
There is conscious avoidance or unconscious avoidance. Topics that address painful experiences: shame, guilt, sexuality, aggression, anxiety.
- Skipping and rescheduling sessions
The reluctance to pay money may be conscious. In this case, the client can discuss this point with the psychotherapist.
If the client rationalizes his unwillingness to pay, then the discussion will not work. The client will find a thousand explanations for missing a session.
- Boredom
The client may say that he is bored during the sessions. Boredom is a tense state, not a relaxed one. This is a state of resistance against one's impulses, fantasies and thoughts.
You can ask the client a question: “Why are you bored? Are you bored talking about yourself? This is your hour, which you spend exclusively on yourself.... It’s all about you... What could be boring here?”
- Gaiety
Frequent fun sessions or a serious story accompanied by "laughs".
- Abrupt cessation of psychotherapy
As a rule, after a few sessions the work begins to be accompanied by anxiety. There is a feeling that the condition is worsening and therapy is making the condition worse.
This indicates the right direction of therapy.
This means that the client approaches significant, difficult-to-bear material, and the psyche protects itself from unpleasant experiences, causing a desire to stop and stop working.
- Disappointment in the psychotherapist
This feeling may be similar to what the client has already felt in relation to another significant person.
This fact should be discussed with a psychotherapist. Most likely, the client associates the therapist with someone from his past.
The importance of resistance analysis in psychotherapy
Resistance in psychotherapy is very important. It allows you to “grope” for the material that leads to the client’s problem.
When the client agrees, realizes the resistance, understands what feelings and emotions are behind it, then we can talk about the reasons for this resistance.
The client begins to see what is behind the resistance. And here truly important topics open up that bring the problem and work opportunities to a new level of awareness.
