(f) Sublimation
Sublimation is a defense mechanism that allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these behaviors into a more acceptable form. Freud believed that sublimation was a sign of maturity that allows people to function normally in socially acceptable ways.
Example
A person experiencing extreme anger might take up kick-boxing as a means of venting frustration.
(g) Regression
This is the movement back in psychological time when one is faced with stress. When someone goes back to earlier forms of childish behavior which used to be successful in protecting the ego from fears and frustration. Regression is a defence mechanism in which one performs reverted behaviour. Becoming independent from a state of dependency is not so easy in life; that is why during severe stresses or difficult challenges one retreats to a somewhat immature level of adjustment. In regression an individual retreats from reality and may exhibit behavior which is not normally expected from that person.
Example
The decline in attention of parents towards an elder child due to a new addition to the family may result in the elder one reverting to bed wetting and other infantile behaviour to draw parental attention.
(h) Rationalisation
When a person justifies his maladaptive behaviour by false logic or ascribes it to noble motives which do not inspire it, it is called rationalization.. Rationalisation helps to justify particular specific behaviour and contributes to soften disappointment related with unattained goals. While using rationalisation mechanism one thinks logically and offers socially approved reasons in order to justify one’s behaviour. Though one knows that his action is immoral and unreasonable, he has an insuperable urge to rationalise it to prove to himself and to others that his action is reasonable, commonly accepted, and full of conventional morality. One may use rationalisation to soften his disappointment in case of the unfulfillment of his usually unacceptable desires.
Example 1
A popular example of rationalisation is the “sour grapes” reaction. The fox who was unable to reach a cluster of delicious grapes, decided that he did not want them after all because they were probably sour.
Example 2
Many times students justify their below standard performance on the ground that they have disassociated themselves from the competitive rat race of society. Sometimes,
Example 3
Failure to achieve a particular goal will end up in describing the goal itself as worthless.