“Just cope!”: The world of defense mechanisms

Timestamps:
0:00 Disclaimer/Introduction
0:30 What is stress?
1:48 What are defense mechanisms?
2:30 Unhealthy defense mechanisms
5:44 Healthy defense mechanisms
9:08 Defense mechanisms and COVID-19: Real-world example
11:08 Who decides which is “healthy”?

Defense mechanisms often get a bad reputation, most often for that single word, “defense”: the connotation often involves arguments, anger, and guilt. However, the truth of the matter is much more nuanced. This video tackles the topic of defense mechanisms by exploring a selection of common key terms and real-world examples. Coined by Sigmund and Anna Freud in the 19th-20th century, defense mechanisms are a standard part of the brain’s method of psychologically coping with the stressors of daily life.

Defense mechanisms are both normal and expected for people of all ages, and the notion that all such mechanisms are undesirable is further from the truth than one might think.

This video was made by McMaster University students Chinwendum Onyeocha, Akshaya Vigneswaran, and Yiming Zhang in collaboration with the Demystifying Research McMaster Program.

Copyright McMaster University 2022

This video is provided for general and educational information only. Please consult your health care provider for Information about your health.

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