In psychoanalytic theory, a defence mechanism (American English: defense mechanism), is an unconscious psychological operation  to protect a person from being aware of certain thoughts , and feelings related to internal conflicts and outer stressorsDi Giuseppe M., Perry J.C., Conversano C., Gelo O.C.G., Gennaro A. Defense mechanisms, gender, and adaptiveness in emerging personality disorders in adolescent outpatients. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.. 2020;208(12):933-941. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000001230American Psychiatric Association (1994)  Diagnostic and statistical manual of mentaldisorders (4th ed ).Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press. When a person carries out a defence mechanism it is intended to reduce anxiety arising from the unacceptable or potentially harmful stimuliDi Giuseppe M., Perry J.C., Conversano C., Gelo O.C.G., Gennaro A. Defense mechanisms, gender, and adaptiveness in emerging personality disorders in adolescent outpatients. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.. 2020;208(12):933-941. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000001230American Psychiatric Association (1994)Diagnostic and statistical manual of mentaldisorders(4th ed). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press .
In psychoanalytic theory, a defence mechanism (American English: defense mechanism), is an unconscious psychological operation designed to protect a person from anxiety-producing thoughts and feelings related to internal conflicts and outer stressors.Di Giuseppe M., Perry J.C., Conversano C., Gelo O.C.G., Gennaro A. Defense mechanisms, gender, and adaptiveness in emerging personality disorders in adolescent outpatients. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.. 2020;208(12):933-941. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000001230American Psychiatric Association (1994) . Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed .). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press 
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