It’s when you snap at a friend when you’re actually mad at your boss.
Displacement as a Defense Mechanism
Defense mechanismsare unconscious strategies people use to cope with unacceptable feelings.
Unlike the consciouscoping strategiesthat we use to manage daily stress, defense mechanisms operate on an entirely unconscious level.
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While people might not be aware of these feelings and urges, they still influence behaviorand can cause anxiety.
Displacement was not on her original list.Researchers later introduced the idea of displacement as an important ego defense mechanism.
Signs of Displacement
Defense mechanisms are very common and are usually a normal aspect of daily functioning.
Overuse of these mechanisms may contribute to psychological distress and poor functioning.
There are several factors that influence how and when displacement occurs.
Age
Young children are more direct about expressing their feelings.
For example, a 4-year-old child is likely to simply yell at a parent when they are upset.
Frequency
Most people have experienced taking out their negative emotions on a secondary target.
While displacement can be a normal response, it can cross the line into maladaptive or even abusive behavior.
Types of Displacement
Displacement can manifest in a couple of different forms.
Sigmund Freudbelieved thatsublimationserved as an important source of creativity and inspiration.
Sublimation involves displacing unacceptable sexual urges toward non-sexual activities that are productive andsocially acceptable, like work and creativity.
Sublimating provides a constructive outlet for unacceptable urges.
Instead, you withhold (or suppress) your emotions until the end of the day.
More often than not, the triggering event is relatively insignificant.
It’s your reaction that is out of proportioneven over the top.
The anger you were feeling at your boss is released, but in an indirect way.
Impact of Displacement
Displacement can sometimes bring about unexpected outcomes and even trigger a series of reactions.
The following are some ways this defense mechanism might negatively affect your life.
Research on the validity of displacement has been mixed.
Your emotional state stays the same.
Later, you might find yourself in a setting where you can react with fewer consequences.
That’s when you unleash all the feelings you suppressed.
Participants who used adaptive defense mechanisms (including displacement) at mid-life had better physical health later in life.
It’s also linked to psychosocial impairments and worse mental health.
Displacement is not something that can be easily viewed.
At this stage, it can be helpful to work with a therapist.
Make a conscious effort to redirect your negative feelings toward an appropriate target.
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