Why we should know about defence mechanisms

Another way of understanding ourselves better, and another way to become more aware of our behaviour with our children, is to know something about defence mechanisms. If we recognise that we are using a defence mechanism to justify what we are doing with our children, it will help us so that we can look more clearly at our thoughts and feelings. In doing so, we can become more conscious of our behaviour with our children, and within our many other relationships as well.

All of us use defence mechanisms to protect us from being consciously aware of thoughts or feelings, which are uncomfortable for us. The defence allows the unconscious thought or feeling to be expressed only INDIRECTLY, in a disguised form.

Defence mechanisms help us cope with unpleasant aspects of reality, but over-reliance on them can create problems.

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