What are "defense mechanisms" in the context of personality psychology?

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that individuals employ to cope with reality and protect their self-image, particularly when faced with stress, anxiety, or internal conflict. They operate largely unconsciously and help manage feelings of threat or distress by distorting or denying reality in some way.

For instance, when someone experiences feelings of inadequacy, they might use denial to avoid acknowledging those feelings, thus protecting their self-esteem. By doing so, they maintain a more favorable self-concept, albeit through potentially maladaptive means.

These mechanisms can include repression, projection, rationalization, and displacement, among others, and they are integral to understanding how individuals maintain their psychological well-being in the face of challenges or adverse experiences. This makes the understanding of defense mechanisms crucial in the study of personality psychology, as they reveal much about individuals' behaviors and emotional responses.