Question

Describe the five stress defense mechanisms using examples found in the workplace. Now, discuss a situational context where a particular defense mechanism is the most effective defense mechanism compared to the other defense mechanisms. Support your position.

Answer 1

answer-

the five stress defense mechanisms-

1-DENIAL-

When a situation or fact becomes too much to handle, you may simply refuse to experience it. By denying reality, you are essentially protecting yourself from having to face and deal with the unpleasant consequences and pain that accompany acceptance.

for example- Manager has shown performance reports to an employee that his performance is declining but he has not effect because he thinks that his performance is good because he is denying the facts.

2-Displacement-

Displacement involves taking out our frustrations, feelings, and impulses on people or objects that are less threatening.

for example- An employee has argument with his manager so he took out his anger on his family or objects.

3-Projection

Projection is the misattribution of a person’s undesired thoughts, feelings or impulses onto another person who does not have those thoughts, feelings or impulses. Projection is used especially when the thoughts are considered unacceptable for the person to express, or they feel completely ill at ease with having them.

for example- An employee who criticize other of their poor performance but in reality his performance is poor.

4-Intellectualization

Intellectualization works to reduce anxiety by thinking about events in a cold, clinical way. This defense mechanism allows us to avoid thinking about the stressful, emotional aspect of the situation and instead focus only on the intellectual component.

for example- An employee get promoted to a job then he is stressed how he could handle the new position so he started to take training and knowledge so that he can handle the stress.

5-Rationalization

Rationalization is a defense mechanism that involves explaining an unacceptable behavior or feeling in a rational or logical manner, avoiding the true reasons for the behavior.

for example- A nurse has given a wrong report to her doctor then doctor came to realize that report is wrong so that nurse the report may replaced by autopsy department instead of her lack of attention to check the report then give to the doctor.

The most effective defense mechanism is Intellectualization because it involves converting the stress into positive ways and handle that stress in positive manner while other defense mechanism handle stress negatively.

For example-

I am junior project manager who works in project of small level but after some time My boss give the big project and promoted me as senior project manager. Now, i get stressed how would i handle the pressure. I can use other defense like Displacement in which i can take that stress to my family or break objects or leave the project by using projection method in which i can say that project is not worth my time or Denial method that i can not handle the project.But these defense does not do any good. But i can use Intellectualization defense mechanism in which i can use all my knowledge, experience with my ex-Project manager and take training so that i can handle the pressure and lead the project to success.

so, I support Intellectualization defense mechanism to be the most effective than others.

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