Defense Mechanisms and Neurotic Needs

The defense mechanisms established by Anna Freud that apply to me are, displacement, projection, rationalization, and reaction formation. But the two most common defense mechanisms that I use would have to be displacement and reaction formation. I would say displacement because whenever I had a bad day at school, like not been able to get a test score I wanted, unable to do a homework I did not understand, which would frustrate me, or simply get blame for something that was not my fault. This would lead me to get frustrated and angered very easily that I would usually take it out on someone, particularly a person at home. For example if my sister would ask me a question after I had a bad day I would usually answer rudely and mean. The other defense mechanism for me would have to be reaction formation because I would sometimes hide my true inner feelings toward someone. This defense mechanism can apply to me in two different ways. The first being that if I do not personally like someone. For example a person who is very annoying, talkative and likes to butt in on conversations that do not concern him would lead me to dislike the person, but I would never have the heart to let him know how I feel, so I become somewhat a hypocrite. The other reason would have to be when I am around friends. For example if a friend criticize me of something or says something rude that makes others laugh but leaves me in embarrassment, I would usually just laugh about it too jus to hide what I really feel about it. A defense mechanism I would like to use would have to be sublimation. I chose sublimation because it is a way of taking out your anger and unacceptable impulses and converting these behaviors to a more acceptable form. For example if I wish to get rid of stress and my anger I would usually go for a long run and clear my mind or grab a punching bag and punch it. This also shows a sign of maturity.

The neurotic needs developed by Karen Horney that would apply to me, would only have to be the neurotic need for affection and approval. But another neurotic need that would come close in applying to me would be the need for prestige. The neurotic need for affection and approval would apply to me because I am the type of person that wishes to be accepted by everybody and does not like to get on peoples nerves or bad side. I wish to please and satisfy everybody not to the extreme, but to help any way I could and make others feel good about themselves. I might be this way because I practically a shy person and I am not easily able to express myself , and I grow up much by myself without a mom and dad cause they use to work all the time. So I do not like the feeling of being alone, so I seek out my cousins as brothers they wore the ones who practically showed me the way of life. An example of this neurotic need is at school, among friends I would always try to make them laugh and help them out whenever they are in need if I am able too. The neurotic need of prestige would apply to me because I would sometimes value myself for public recognition depending on various things such as material possessions and personal characteristics at times. I am also the type of person that fears public embarrassment. An example of this for me on terms of material possessions would have to be of me getting a car so I can prove to people that I can handle the responsibility of driving. A neurotic need that I would like to use would have to be the need for personal achievement. I always wish to keep getting better and better at things, where there is no room for failure. For example I would be the type of person that enjoys running at a very fast pace and I always strive to get better at beating my timing. I would keep getting faster and faster until no one is able to come close in keeping up with me.