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| Chapter 11: The Workings of the Unconscious Mind: Defenses and Slips |
The purpose of this exercise is to help students to better understand the psychoanalytic defense mechanisms. I have found that, when students begin to relate the defense mechanisms to their own experiences in daily life they better understand what Anna Freud was saying about her observations of human behavior. Recall from the textbook readings that there is limited evidence supporting psychoanalytic theory, so this exercise should be viewed as an educational opportunity; this exercise is an intellectual activity to help you to understand psychoanalytic theory (it is not a psychological test, and it is not an exercise intended to reveal anything about you).
Use the worksheets to complete this exercise.
- Make a numbered list of things that make you anxious. If you have difficulty identifying things that make you anxious, ask a parent, close friend, or similar significant other for help.
- On a separate piece of paper, ask yourself which anxiety-provoking things are the result of realistic anxiety and which are the result of unrealistic anxiety.
- Show your numbered list to someone you feel comfortable talking with, who knows you well (parent, close friend, or significant other). Ask that person to identify which anxiety provoking things they believe are the result of realistic anxiety and which are the result of unrealistic anxiety. Notice any differences between your assessment and the informant's assessment.
- For each thing that causes you anxiety, ask yourself this question, "When I am anxious about this, how do I cope with the anxiety?"
- Looking at the answers for #4, see if you can identify times when you might be using defense mechanisms to cope with your anxiety.
- After completing this exercise, consider which side of the debate (see pg. 330–331) you agree with and why. (Is it good to experience anxiety? Or should we avoid these bad feelings any way we can?)
Step #1) Things that make me feel anxious include:
| 1) |
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| 2) |
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| 3) |
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| 4) |
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| 5) |
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| 6) |
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| 7) |
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Step #2) Each of these anxiety provoking things/events are due to (circle one):
| 1) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 2) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 3) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 4) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 5) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 6) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 7) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
Step #3) Each of these anxiety provoking things/events are due to (circle one):
| 1) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 2) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 3) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 4) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 5) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 6) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
| 7) |
probably realistic anxiety |
probably unrealistic anxiety |
Step #4 and #5) Explore the causes and consequences of anxiety: Coping and Defense
| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 1) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 2) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 3) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 4) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 5) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 6) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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| "When I am anxious about this how do I cope with the anxiety?" |
| 7) |
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Defense mechanism used? Yes No |
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If "yes," which one? |
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