Defense or Coping Mechanisms are descriptions for certain forms of human behaviors
that attempt to adapt to situations, circumstances and mindset. All humans respond to
their environment and stimulus from the environment in some way. Scripture tells us that
there are Behaviors, and Consequences, that there are certain behaviors that lead to
suffering, others that lead to spiritual peace. Scripture tells of Sowing and Reaping, that
is, that our actions, apart from the grace of God, can have dire consequences, while we
walk in darkness, and that the walk in the light of the truth of scriptural principles
becomes our 'spiritual armor'.
This is not a thread on "Christian Psychology" or Psychology at all. Those might be good
topics for other threads. This is not about "man's words", but is about how to relate
scriptural principles, to concepts and themes of behavior and consequence. There is
another thread to discuss SPIRITS and DEMONS (See link below).
This thread is to discuss the PARTICULAR Mechanisms and concepts of --
1) TRANSFERENCE
2) PROJECTION
3) IDENTIFICATION
4) RATIONALIZATION and
5) SCAPEGOATING
and if others want to share other 'Defense Mechanisms' AS THEY APPLY TO SCRIPTURAL
PRINCIPLES, that is welcome also - I won't offer that up myself. The five Mechanisms
above can be found throughout scripture, they are a large part of the modus operandii of
the Old Testament Ritual Law;
* Animal Sacrifice for atonement
* Dress up
* Ritual Ceremonies
* Symbols and Icons
* Payments and Punishments
* Scapegoating
What do these terms mean, and how might we detect them in scripture, and in society
and our own personal lives?
1) Transference (Paternal Transference and Maternal Transference)
Is the redirection of attitudes and emotions towards a substitute. For
example, an employee may see his manager as a father figure (paternal
transference), especially if the employee had a difficult relationship with
his father during childhood.
Typically, the pattern projected onto the other person comes from a
childhood relationship. This may be from an actual person, such a
parent or an idealized figure. This transfers both power and also
expectation. "If you treat me as a parent, I can tell you what to do, but
you will also expect me to care for you." This can have both positive
and negative outcomes.
[SIZE=-1]2) Projection (also projective identification)
Projection, also called projective identification, involves the tendency
to see your own unacceptable desires in other people. In other words,
the desires are still there, but they're not your desires anymore. The
objective is to make yourself feel superior.[/SIZE]
An important motive for projection lies in the 'projector's' wish to
control the person who is reminding them of their low self-esteem, or
feelings of inferiority, inadequcy and worthlessness, to prevent him or
her from making the 'projector' feel bad.
Transference vs projection
Transference and projection are not the same thing. Projection is
caused by the transference. Transference is activated in the person
(probably through unmet emotional needs as a child), and projection is
the release of that transference out of the person.
Link-->> Definitions in psychology: narcissism, splitting, paranoia etc.
3) Idenitification
Identification occurs when a person changes apparent facets of their
personality such that they appear to be more like other people. This
process may be to be copy specific people or it may be to change to an
idealized prototype.
This generally happens as a subconscious process, as opposed to
being a more conscious mimicking, although these processes may
occur together, as the person consciously as well as subconsciously
wants to be like the other person.
Areas of identification may include external elements, such as clothing
and hair styles (which may be chosen without consciously realizing the
influences that are at play) as well as internal factors such as beliefs,
values and attitudes.
Example
A girl dresses like her friends, as much because she likes the garb as
any conscious desire to be like them.
A person in a meeting adopts similar body language to their manager,
and tend to take the same viewpoint.
Two people in a party meet and each finds the other very attractive.
Between them they both adjust their views and postures to be more
similar to one another.
Link-->> Coping Mechanisms
4) Rationalization
When something happens that we find difficult to accept, then we will
make up a logical reason why it has happened.
The target of rationalization is usually something that we have done,
such as being unkind to another person. It may also be used when
something happens independent of us which causes us discomfort,
such as when a friend is unkind to us.
We rationalize to ourselves. We also find it very important to rationalize
to other people, even those we do not know.
Example
A person evades paying taxes and then rationalizes it by talking about
how the government wastes money (and how it is better for people to
keep what they can).
A man buys a expensive car and then tells people his old car was very
unreliable, very unsafe, etc.
Link-->> Coping Mechanisms
5) Scapegoating
Scapegoating: Process in which the mechanisms of projection or
displacement are utilized in focusing feelings of aggression, hostility,
frustration, etc., upon another individual or group; the amount of blame
being unwarranted.
Link-->> Scapegoating definition - Scapegoating description - Health Terms
See Also:
Seven Demons, Seven Deadly Sins - for a discussion on Spirits, Demons, Sin
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/27587-seven-demons-seven-deadly-sins.html
that attempt to adapt to situations, circumstances and mindset. All humans respond to
their environment and stimulus from the environment in some way. Scripture tells us that
there are Behaviors, and Consequences, that there are certain behaviors that lead to
suffering, others that lead to spiritual peace. Scripture tells of Sowing and Reaping, that
is, that our actions, apart from the grace of God, can have dire consequences, while we
walk in darkness, and that the walk in the light of the truth of scriptural principles
becomes our 'spiritual armor'.
This is not a thread on "Christian Psychology" or Psychology at all. Those might be good
topics for other threads. This is not about "man's words", but is about how to relate
scriptural principles, to concepts and themes of behavior and consequence. There is
another thread to discuss SPIRITS and DEMONS (See link below).
This thread is to discuss the PARTICULAR Mechanisms and concepts of --
1) TRANSFERENCE
2) PROJECTION
3) IDENTIFICATION
4) RATIONALIZATION and
5) SCAPEGOATING
and if others want to share other 'Defense Mechanisms' AS THEY APPLY TO SCRIPTURAL
PRINCIPLES, that is welcome also - I won't offer that up myself. The five Mechanisms
above can be found throughout scripture, they are a large part of the modus operandii of
the Old Testament Ritual Law;
* Animal Sacrifice for atonement
* Dress up
* Ritual Ceremonies
* Symbols and Icons
* Payments and Punishments
* Scapegoating
What do these terms mean, and how might we detect them in scripture, and in society
and our own personal lives?
1) Transference (Paternal Transference and Maternal Transference)
Is the redirection of attitudes and emotions towards a substitute. For
example, an employee may see his manager as a father figure (paternal
transference), especially if the employee had a difficult relationship with
his father during childhood.
Typically, the pattern projected onto the other person comes from a
childhood relationship. This may be from an actual person, such a
parent or an idealized figure. This transfers both power and also
expectation. "If you treat me as a parent, I can tell you what to do, but
you will also expect me to care for you." This can have both positive
and negative outcomes.
[SIZE=-1]2) Projection (also projective identification)
Projection, also called projective identification, involves the tendency
to see your own unacceptable desires in other people. In other words,
the desires are still there, but they're not your desires anymore. The
objective is to make yourself feel superior.[/SIZE]
An important motive for projection lies in the 'projector's' wish to
control the person who is reminding them of their low self-esteem, or
feelings of inferiority, inadequcy and worthlessness, to prevent him or
her from making the 'projector' feel bad.
Transference vs projection
Transference and projection are not the same thing. Projection is
caused by the transference. Transference is activated in the person
(probably through unmet emotional needs as a child), and projection is
the release of that transference out of the person.
Link-->> Definitions in psychology: narcissism, splitting, paranoia etc.
3) Idenitification
Identification occurs when a person changes apparent facets of their
personality such that they appear to be more like other people. This
process may be to be copy specific people or it may be to change to an
idealized prototype.
This generally happens as a subconscious process, as opposed to
being a more conscious mimicking, although these processes may
occur together, as the person consciously as well as subconsciously
wants to be like the other person.
Areas of identification may include external elements, such as clothing
and hair styles (which may be chosen without consciously realizing the
influences that are at play) as well as internal factors such as beliefs,
values and attitudes.
Example
A girl dresses like her friends, as much because she likes the garb as
any conscious desire to be like them.
A person in a meeting adopts similar body language to their manager,
and tend to take the same viewpoint.
Two people in a party meet and each finds the other very attractive.
Between them they both adjust their views and postures to be more
similar to one another.
Link-->> Coping Mechanisms
4) Rationalization
When something happens that we find difficult to accept, then we will
make up a logical reason why it has happened.
The target of rationalization is usually something that we have done,
such as being unkind to another person. It may also be used when
something happens independent of us which causes us discomfort,
such as when a friend is unkind to us.
We rationalize to ourselves. We also find it very important to rationalize
to other people, even those we do not know.
Example
A person evades paying taxes and then rationalizes it by talking about
how the government wastes money (and how it is better for people to
keep what they can).
A man buys a expensive car and then tells people his old car was very
unreliable, very unsafe, etc.
Link-->> Coping Mechanisms
5) Scapegoating
Scapegoating: Process in which the mechanisms of projection or
displacement are utilized in focusing feelings of aggression, hostility,
frustration, etc., upon another individual or group; the amount of blame
being unwarranted.
Link-->> Scapegoating definition - Scapegoating description - Health Terms
See Also:
Seven Demons, Seven Deadly Sins - for a discussion on Spirits, Demons, Sin
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/27587-seven-demons-seven-deadly-sins.html
