Anna Freud, psychoanalyst, was interested in the way in which the mind manages emotional pain and building on her father’s theory described a variety of defence mechansims that we use to help protect ourselves. All of this takes place without conscious awareness.
She believed that such defence mechanisms were often useful and necessary, for example in the early stages of grief or after a sudden shock a degree of denial can be helpful. However her theory suggests that sometimes when defences are too rigid or prolonged they can sometimes cause us difficulties. They can impact on our relationships and restrict access to a full range of emotions which may impedes a realistic appraisal of a situation.
This short video by the school of life covers the subject well and describes some common defence mechanisms which can be used at any given time by us all…