The Significance of Psychological Defences
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DEFENCE MECHANISMS IN THE PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PROCESS.
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Introduction
The roots of the term ‘defence mechanism’ are to be found in psychoanalysis, and refer originally to ‘a process whereby the ego protects itself against the demands of the id’ (Colman, 2001: 189). In other words, the primitive, “I want”, voice of the id is tempered and restrained by the civilised,“You can’t always have”, voice of the ego. In this sense, our defences constitute the compromise that has been reached between ego and id. More generally however, defence mechanisms can be defined as techniques ‘arising in response to a perception of psychic danger’ (Colman, 2001: 189), or, the ‘strategies which a person employs, either knowingly or unknowingly, in order to avoid facing aspects of the self which are felt to be threatening’ (Jacobs, 1999: 98). Our defences are therefore highly functional, in protecting us from perceived threat, and yet in this very act of protection, they may also be inhibiting us from growth and change.
In this paper I will be exploring, from a psychodynamic perspective, the role of defence mechanisms in the therapeutic process. I will be assessing the ways in which defences are expressed within the psychotherapeutic process (resistance), as well as illustrating some of the techniques that the therapist may harness in order to enable their client to ‘control defence use’ and move forward (Clark, 1999: 22). I will be drawing from clinical practice, as a means of highlighting the most important themes of this topic. Before discussing defences in the context of psychodynamic counselling however, I think it would be useful to first provide a summary and brief definitions of what are the key defence mechanisms.
Key Defence Mechanisms
Whilst over fifty defence mechanisms have been proposed by theoreticians over the past hundred years, some are more widely professionally accepted than others. In his book,
.
Introduction
The roots of the term ‘defence mechanism’ are to be found in psychoanalysis, and refer originally to ‘a process whereby the ego protects itself against the demands of the id’ (Colman, 2001: 189). In other words, the primitive, “I want”, voice of the id is tempered and restrained by the civilised,“You can’t always have”, voice of the ego. In this sense, our defences constitute the compromise that has been reached between ego and id. More generally however, defence mechanisms can be defined as techniques ‘arising in response to a perception of psychic danger’ (Colman, 2001: 189), or, the ‘strategies which a person employs, either knowingly or unknowingly, in order to avoid facing aspects of the self which are felt to be threatening’ (Jacobs, 1999: 98). Our defences are therefore highly functional, in protecting us from perceived threat, and yet in this very act of protection, they may also be inhibiting us from growth and change.
In this paper I will be exploring, from a psychodynamic perspective, the role of defence mechanisms in the therapeutic process. I will be assessing the ways in which defences are expressed within the psychotherapeutic process (resistance), as well as illustrating some of the techniques that the therapist may harness in order to enable their client to ‘control defence use’ and move forward (Clark, 1999: 22). I will be drawing from clinical practice, as a means of highlighting the most important themes of this topic. Before discussing defences in the context of psychodynamic counselling however, I think it would be useful to first provide a summary and brief definitions of what are the key defence mechanisms.
Key Defence Mechanisms
Whilst over fifty defence mechanisms have been proposed by theoreticians over the past hundred years, some are more widely professionally accepted than others. In his book,
Bibliography: Casement, P, 1985. On Learning from the Patient (London: Routledge) Clark, A.J. 1999. Defence Mechanisms in the Counselling Process (London: Sage Publications) Colman, A. M, ed. 2001. The Oxford Dictionary of Psychology (Oxford: Oxford University Press) Fenichel, O. 1946. The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis (London: Routledge) Freud, A. 1968 The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence (London: Hogarth Press) Jacobs, M. 1999. Psychodynamic Counselling in Action, 2nd edn. (London: Sage Publications) Malan, D. H. 1995. Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics, 2nd edn. (London: Butterworth Heinemann) Yalom, I. D. 1989 Love’s Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy, 2nd edn. (London: Penguin Books)