Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M2515

Defense Mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms
BehaviorHigh supportPersonal Development
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Proposed by Freud, these are strategies (such as repression, projection, denial, sublimation) unconsciously adopted by the ego to reduce anxiety, guilt, or conflict.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Deep self-awareness. When we have inexplicable reactions, ask ourselves: "What am I defending against?" Identifying defense mechanisms helps us see unconscious fears and shift from passive reaction to active choice.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

The ego unconsciously employs strategies (repression, projection, sublimation, etc.) to alleviate conflict and anxiety, mostly operating outside conscious awareness.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BF%83%E7%90%86%E9%98%B2%E5%8D%AB%E6%9C%BA%E5%88%B6ZH · Explicit
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