Ego Defense Mechanisms

Although defense mechanisms serve a useful protective function, they usually involve some measure of self-deception and reality distortion, and may seriously interfere with the effective resolution of the actual problem.  Ego defense-mechanisms are considered to be maladaptive when they become the predominant means of coping with stressors. 

Ego-defense mechanisms are learned, usually during early childhood.  They are developed to deal with inner hurt, pain, anger, anxiety, sadness and self-devaluation.  They operate on relatively automatic and habitual levels. 

• Denial of Reality:  Protecting self from unpleasant reality by refusal to perceive it or face it.
• Fantasy:  Gratifying frustrated desires by imaginary achievements.
• Repression:  Preventing painful or dangerous thoughts from entering consciousness.
• Rationalization:  Attempting to prove that one's behavior is 'rational' and justifiable and thus worthy of self and social approval.
• Projection:  Placing blame for difficulties upon others or attributing one's own unethical desires to others.
• Reaction Formation:  Preventing dangerous desires from being expressed by adopting exaggerated opposed attitudes and types of behavior and using them as 'barriers'.
• Displacement:  Discharging pent-up feelings, usually hostility, on objects less dangerous than those which initially aroused the emotion.
• Emotional Insulation:  Reducing ego involvement and withdrawing into passivity to protect self from hurt.
• Intellectualization:  Cutting off affective charge from hurtful situations or separating incompatible attitudes by logic-tight compartments.
• Undoing:  Atoning for and thus counteracting immoral desires or acts.
• Regression:  Retreating to earlier developmental level involving less mature responses and usually a lower level of aspiration.
• Identification:  Increasing feelings of worth by identifying self with person or institution of illustrious standing.
• Introjection:  Incorporating external values and standards into ego structure so individual is not at their mercy as external threats.
• Compensation:  Covering up weakness by emphasizing desirable trait or making up for frustration in one area by over-gratification in another.

(Anna Freud)

Some typical 'excuses' that alcoholics or addicts tend to make.  
You can substitute your brand of addiction instead of alcohol/drug.  

• Rationalizing - I don't drink/use every day, I don't have a problem.
• Minimizing - I don't drink/use half of what Sam drinks.
• Cockiness - I got it made, these other folks are losers.
• Justifying - If you had a wife/husband like mine, you would drink/use too.
• Projecting - You always manipulate to get what you want.
• Blaming - You drove me to drink/use. It is my job stress.
• Humor - This isn't serious. Life is a joke.
• Intellectualizing - Research shows I'm probably not an alcoholic/addict.
• Lying - I only had a couple of beers, maybe three.
• Manipulation - If you quit bitching, I'll quit drinking/using.
• Accusing - Your fooling around keeps me drinking/using.
• Threatening - Get off my back or you will be sorry!
• Judging - If you did this or that right, things wouldn't be so bad.
• Explaining - Oh, I drink/use because I . . .
• Analyzing - I started drinking more because of ____, it will slow down later.
• Arguing - I'm not an alcoholic, I've never gotten a DWI or . . .
• Defiance - I dare you to prove that I'm an alcoholic/addict.
• Withdrawing - If I don't do or say anything, they will leave me alone.
• Shouting - Leave me alone, I don't want to talk about it!
• Silence -
• Smiling - Just laugh it off. Nervous smile.
• Compliance - I just do and say what they want.