Wednesday, August 17, 2016

15 Common Defense Mechanisms/Acting Out

Our 3rd defense mechanism is acting out. This defense mechanism is the physical or more provocative version of regression. If you remember from regression, it is more about acting like a child with an immature voice, sarcasm, or some other form of benign action that is reflective of a much younger age.  With acting out, you take it to the next level by literally physically conveying your issues.

Acting Out: Acting Out is performing an extreme behavior in order to express thoughts or feelings the person feels incapable of otherwise expressing. Instead of saying, “I’m angry with you,” a person who acts out may instead throw a book at the person, or punch a hole through a wall. When a person acts out, it can act as a pressure release, and often helps the individual feel calmer and peaceful once again. For instance, a child’s temper tantrum is a form of acting out when he or she doesn’t get his or her way with a parent. Self-injury may also be a form of acting-out, expressing in physical pain what one cannot stand to feel emotionally. (http://psychcentral.com/lib/15-common-defense-mechanisms/)

Have you ever known someone that is consistently getting drunk and fighting with others? This is a form of acting out against another part of their life that is particularly painful and they can't express with words. Instead, they decide to demonstrate their anger with violence and self-destruction. Acting out is one of the most dangerous forms of a defense mechanism, because it is often just as bad or worse than the issue the person is running away from. That drunk person may be dealing with a bad marriage, the loss of a significant person in their life, a terrible or unsatisfactory job, or a number of other reasons. Yet, they feel it is better to put themselves and others in danger, as well as risk jail time, rather than talk about their problems with others. Often, the people don't calculate the risks when they are acting out or simply don't care, but many have never learned how to address the issues they are dealing with constructively.

Do MLMers act out??? I have never personally seen an MLMer act out, but there are books written by former IBO's, and comments written on other forums stating this is an occurrence.  There have been stories of IBO's beating their wives, hurting their children, and becoming alcoholics. Can we say for certain this has come from being a member of an MLM? Probably not, but there is a correlation between acting out and not being happy with your current situation in life.  Many MLMers feel betrayed when they find out the dreams and opportunities weren't really available for them, but rather they were supplying it for an upline member. Many MLMers feel hurt when they bring in friends to an opportunity that turns out to do a lot of damage to their downlines lives. This is why it is quite plausible that there would be a correlation between MLM and acting out.


2 comments:

  1. MLMer's often act out. There have been some real characters on my blog recently. Eventually you'll get these types on here too.

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    1. I will be more than happy to deal with any MLMers and their concerns about my subjects and opinions. I like dealing with words and can't stand people who resort to violence (even against themselves). We are a species that has evolved to understand choices and consequences...it is time to start acting like that in a responsible manner.

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