In psychological terms, what are defenses like projection and repression categorized as?

Projection and repression are categorized as defense mechanisms because they are unconscious psychological strategies that individuals use to protect themselves from anxiety or distress. Defense mechanisms serve to distort reality and reduce emotional conflict by helping individuals manage their internal conflicts and unwelcome feelings.

In the case of projection, an individual attributes their own undesirable thoughts or feelings onto someone else, thereby distancing themselves from those feelings. Repression involves unconsciously blocking out painful or anxiety-inducing thoughts, memories, or impulses from conscious awareness. Both mechanisms illustrate how individuals can cope with difficult emotions or thoughts by transforming them into more manageable forms.

Other options like emotional responses, adaptive behaviors, and thought processes do not specifically encapsulate the unique function of projection and repression as defense mechanisms. Emotional responses refer to the conscious feelings that arise from a specific situation rather than the unconscious psychological strategies for coping. Adaptive behaviors typically involve positive adjustments to one's environment or circumstances, while thought processes denote the patterns of thinking or reasoning, which can include rational thought and cognition but do not cover these unconscious strategies.