Thus they prevent many unwelcome, stressful feelings from becoming conscious. They intercede in our unconscious data flow quickly enough to permit alternative responses to occur. These strategies shape our inward character and outward personality. We all have unconscious ways of easing our feelings of guilt and anxiety, and thus sealing off our painful feelings. Unfortunately, censors not only block painful experiences from entering our awareness, they also block the corresponding awareness of reality.
Censors thus tend to create self-deception, a zone of inattention, or a blind spot in our awareness.
When this comforting behavior becomes a habit, it reshapes our personality.