Defense Mechanisms By David Straker

As humans we often encounter many different scenarios throughout our day. You could be feeling a sense of calmness, and then a split second later a big black cloud of stress could come over you. As we try deal with these stressful encounters, the brain naturally goes into a subconscious state. When the brain is in this state, it triggers the first response problem solving tactics known as defense mechanisms in order to help find a solution to the crises at hand. In the nonfiction article Defense Mechanisms, David Straker shows the common types of defense mechanisms that humans use to solve stressful situations and crises. These types of Defense Mechanisms that Straker talks about in his article are clearly seen in the fictional text The Turn
Reaction Formation is defined as “when a person feels an urge to do or say something and then actually does or says something that is effectively the opposite of what they really want” (Straker 5). Evidently, Reaction Formation often occurs because of the views of others in society. This pressure from society forces an individual change either in their physical appearance or mental state to meet the views of others. In The Turn of the Screw, the governess shows the use of Reaction Formation when she decides to take care of the children, simply to impress the uncle, despite knowing that they are evil and wicked. In the novella, the author says, “Have you written, miss? “Yes—I’ve written.” But I didn’t add—for the hour—that my letter, sealed and directed, was still in my pocket” (James 50-51). Despite writing the letter, pleading the uncle to come to Bly, the Governess never tells Mrs. Grose if she sent it or not. The governess kept the letter in her pocket because she realizes that if she sends the letter, she is telling the Uncle that she is not capable of handling the responsibility. Thus, she is not meeting her objective of winning the uncle over, which was her ultimatum for taking the job. After not sending the letter, the rest of the story shows the Governess being overprotective of the children and treating them like angels
Projection is defined as when “a person projects uncomfortable thoughts or feeling onto another person in order to repress themselves” (Straker 3). Projection is used to defend individuals from a state of paranoia. In the novella, The Turn of the Screw, projection is very evident when the governess automatically begins to shout at Miles and Flora for seeing the apparitions just because she sees them. The author says, “I’ll tell you if you’ll tell ME—” I heard myself say, then heard the tremor in which it broke” (James 54). After finding Flora at the edge of the lake, the Governess begins to confront Flora why she was here. Flora quickly changes the subject to ask where Miles was. The Governess responds tells Flora that she will answer her question only if Flora tells her about Miss Jessel, by saying ““Where, my pet, is Miss Jessel?” (James 54). The Governess is validating that Flora can see the ghosts and also commanding her to show her where Miss Jessel is, only because the Governess can see