Defense Mechanisms Used to Cope With Death
By using the following coping devices, people dealing with death and dying are better able to unconsciously protect themselves from threatening situations.
- Fantasizing – By imagining certain solutions or outcomes, individuals are able to work through many of the problems that may be of concern to them.
- Identification – An individual can gain a sense of belonging and self-worth by identifying with other people.
- Projection – Individuals may blame something or someone for their own failure or shortcoming.
- Rationalization – Individuals may deceive themselves in order to cope with a failure or disappointment by rationalizing the situation to fit their needs.
- Regression – An individual desires to get rid of the tensions and return to the carefree days of his or her youth.
- Repression – An individual may exclude painful experiences, impulses, or fears from his or her mind.
- Substitution – An individual may replace one goal with another in order to gain self-respect.
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Excerpted from The Health Teacher's Book of Lists .
