Definition

1. Noun:
   • A psychological defense mechanism: In psychiatry and psychology, a "defence reaction" is an unconscious mental process. Its primary function is to protect the individual from experiencing anxiety, emotional pain, or distress that arises from unacceptable or threatening thoughts, feelings, or instinctive desires. It operates automatically, without the person's conscious awareness or intent.

Usage

• Noun:
  • Repression is a classic defence reaction that banishes disturbing thoughts from conscious awareness.
  • The therapist helped the patient recognize his use of projection as a defence reaction against feelings of inadequacy.
  • In psychoanalytic theory, a defence reaction is not considered a deliberate choice but an automatic coping strategy.

Advanced Usage

• "to employ a defence reaction": to utilize (unconsciously) a specific defense mechanism.
  • When faced with criticism, he tends to employ the defence reaction of rationalization.
• "as a defence reaction against": functioning to protect oneself from a specific threat or feeling.
  • Her apparent indifference served as a defence reaction against the fear of rejection.

Variants and Related Words

• Defense mechanism (n): This is the more common and general term synonymous with "defence reaction." (Note: "defense" is the American English spelling, while "defence" is British English).
  • Denial and displacement are types of defense mechanisms.
• Defensive reaction (n): This phrase can be used more broadly outside of strict psychiatric contexts to describe a conscious or unconscious protective response.
  • His angry outburst was a defensive reaction to feeling vulnerable.

Synonyms

• Defense mechanism: The standard synonym in psychological terminology.
• Unconscious defense: Highlights the automatic, non-conscious nature of the process.
• Ego defense: A term from Freudian psychoanalysis, specifying the ego's role in managing conflicts.

Related Phrases

• "To lower one's defences": to become less psychologically guarded or defensive.
  • In a safe therapeutic environment, a patient can learn to lower his defences.
• "A defence against": a protection from something.
  • Humor can sometimes be a healthy defence against sadness.

Related Idioms

• "To be on the defensive": to be ready to defend oneself against criticism or attack, often used in both psychological and everyday contexts.
  • Whenever his work is questioned, he immediately goes on the defensive.
• "A knee-jerk reaction": an automatic and unthinking response, which can sometimes describe the unconscious quality of a defence reaction.
  • His refusal to even consider the idea was a knee-jerk reaction, likely stemming from a deep-seated defence mechanism.

Noun

1. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires