Adaptive Mechanisms

We cope with difficulties in various ways, many of them negative and uncomfortable as we try to repel or hide from uncomfortable feelings. Sometimes we manage to act in more positive and helpful ways. Here are some of these:

Adaptation: The human ability to adapt.

Compartmentalization: separating conflicting thoughts into separated compartments.

Compensation: Over-doing one thing to compensate for another weakness.

Crying: Tears of release and seeking comfort.

Displacement: shifting of intended action to a safer target.

Idealization: playing up the good points and ignoring limitations of things desired.

Identification: copying others to take on their characteristics.

Intellectualization: avoiding emotion by focusing on facts and logic.

Performing Rituals: Getting time to think.

Post-traumatic growth: Using the energy of trauma for good.

Sublimation: Channel psychic energy into acceptable activities.

Substitution: Replacing bad things with good things.

Undoing: actions that psychologically 'undo' wrongdoings for the wrongdoer.

These are some of the more positive mechanisms or methods that can be used positively. In practice, a number of other coping methods work well enough without doing any harm.

So what?

Try to use some of these more positive methods rather than falling into the more destructive mechanisms. If you are helping others adapt, encourage them to use these rather than other defenses.

Remember that coping is not curing. It is an adaptation in any form. Eventually, the best approach is to address the underlying issue.

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Adaptive Mechanisms

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