Tuesday, August 16, 2016

15 Common Defense Mechanisms/Regression

Today's Defense Mechanism is regression.  Regression is interesting because people tend to act as though they are at a more advanced stage of their life rather than go backwards. This is one way we that we strive to better ourselves, and yet when faced with a painful reality it is easy to revert back to what we know best. Here is the definition of regression from PsychCentral.com

Regression: Regression is the reversion to an earlier stage of development in the face of unacceptable thoughts or impulses. For an example an adolescent who is overwhelmed with fear, anger and growing sexual impulses might become clingy and start exhibiting earlier childhood behaviors he has long since overcome, such as bedwetting. An adult may regress when under a great deal of stress, refusing to leave their bed and engage in normal, everyday activities. (http://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-defense-mechanisms/)

The first expression that comes to mind is, quit being such a baby.  In most cases it is easier to find an excuse rather than a solution, and with regression the excuse is simply to act incompetent. Have you ever been asked to take out the trash? Without thinking your first thought may be, "I don't wanna!" in your favorite four year old voice,or maybe "Why don't you take out the trash?" in a snarky 13 year old voice. These are examples of how the subconscious chooses to handle situations of discomfort, and then you can choose whether or not you want to act out in these manners.

MLM Regression is Bad!!! When I was approached about a couple of MLM's, the people were extremely friendly and polite.  They were certainly acting above their actual position in life, and it was refreshing to see them trying so hard.  However, that quickly changes once you disagree with what they are telling you. The MLMers ability to rationally think about different people's perspectives has been wiped out by their conditioning and replaced by a 7 year old's fight or flight mentality.  To an MLMer there are only two sides to every story, and their side is right while everyone else is wrong.  

My most vivid experience with regression was when I told the man attempting to sponsor me to show me the numbers. His first response, much like that of a child, who cares about the numbers, and you just have to follow your dreams.  If you follow these wise people who care about you and have shown you their successes, then good fortunes will come. This to me was like putting my head in the sand and hoping when I popped back up a giant sack of money would be lying next to me.  He had somehow confused hard work and learning with an undying trust based on a few choice words and some pictures. 

While regression typically is shown in an outward appearance of conveying an emotion or action based on a child or younger, it can also be reflective in our decisions of who we trust and choose to look up to as a model.  It is important to have people you look up to, because it will encourage you to strive for more. Yet, it is easy to not notice that you are regressing when the people you are modeling after are terrible examples.

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