Displacement is a defense mechanism in which an unacceptable thought, emotion, behaviour or desires is redirected from the Original target to a much safer target ie; Primary target to a secondary target.Â
From the original source to a safer target.
Most people oftenly use ‘the anger scenario when explaining about displacement but other uncomfortable feelings and impulses like sexual impulses, envy etc are also included here.
Why we Use Displacement.
Like other defense mechanisms, Displacement helps to manage conflict that would arise in our mind leading to anxiety and shame/guilt.
Displacement can also protect us from external conflicts that would lead to further consequences.
When expressing the impulse to the original target might go against social and cultural constraints, Displacement might offer a better alternative.
It helps us express painful emotions/feelings but in an indirect way.
Example Scenarios of Displacement Defense Mechanism in Real Life.
- Displacing from A superior to inferior Person.
Sometimes when the original source is more superior and expressing directly leads to far reaching consequences, Unacceptable impulses and emotions may be channelled to a less threatening Outlet.
For Instance the commonly used example where an individual Criticized by the Boss holds back his anger and upon Reaching home yells at the Spouse or kids.
- Â Situation to Situation.
Sometime an emotion or impulse is redirected from it’s original situation to a secondary situation.
For instance; Poor people who resent the rich out of envy may find it hard to express their envious feelings directly but unconsciously may find an outlet to express their resentment indirectly in a situation where the Rich person is in a conflict with a poor person.
- Person to Object.
It goes like this; In the Case of the individual yelled at by the Boss arriving home to yell or beat his spouse, the spouse may unconsciously channel to a more safer outlet such as the Kid. The kid being the safer outlet and may direct it to a Cat.
Sometimes anger can be directed to objects such as throwing a phone Away.
- From a Person to an Activity.
People direct unacceptable impulses to activities such as An individual angered by a Parent might distract himself by Doing some chores.
- Unacceptable to Acceptable Way of Channeling.
Sublimation discussed below is an example of this where unacceptable impulses or emotions are channeled towards a more acceptable activity.
- From a Person to a more relatable Person.
Here, the unacceptable emotions, feelings and impulses are channeled from the original source to people who are more relatable to the source or sharing similar Qualities.
For instance; A girl with Dady issues displacing her hatred to other men or Boy heartbroken by Girlfriend, resenting women.
Sometimes children who have hostile feelings with their Fathers come to resent any form of authority eg; Those in Power or Policemen.
- From a Group to a Group.
For instance; Blaming lack of employment on immigrants instead of criticizing the government.
- From the Original source to a Scenario to an Unrelated scenario.
Sometimes the Fear of death is displaced to all other circumstances that consist of the Unknown such as Taking new risks, talking to strangers etc.
Displacement Vs Projection.
Projection and displacement are closely related but work in different ways.
For Instance; Unlike in displacement where an Impulse or unacceptable emotion is transferred from the primary source or target to a more safer target, Projection involves attributing one’s uncomfortable impulses and traits to another individual. Eg someone with repressed Anger see people as Hostile to him.Â
In Displacement, one’s ego acts as a Spade to redirect from one source to another.
In Projection, it acts like a Mirror where the Repressed is reflected on the face of an external object.
Effects of Using Displacement.Â
Displacement as a defense mechanism, leads to both positive and negative consequences.
For instance;
1. It offers short term relief hence reduced anxiety and stress levels.
2. It may cause relationship issues especially when displacing the unacceptable impulses to an Innocent party.
3. It may lead Further Harm. Displacement may lead to feelings of Guilt or shame.
4. Endless Cycle of Negativity.
The commonly used example of the Father scolded by the Boss going to yell at the spouse who will later kick the Kid before the Kid hitting the cat or fighting the sibling and who knows the cat may go to kick a glass flask down is an example of how Displacement can cause endless cycle of negativity leading to more and more problems.
How To Manage Displacement.
1. Self reflection – Analysing our behaviours and responses can be helpful.
2. Journaling – Instead of displacing it to other people you consider as safer why not journal and displace these impulses on a paper which is even more safer. By journaling we give them a voice on paper.
3. Meditation – It helps one stay calm and stay grounded in the Present.
4. Adress the Source Where Possible.
It could even be helpful if we addressed the matter to the original source instead of finding a Scapegoat.
5. Seek Professional advice from a Therapist.
Experimental Research About Displacement.Â
In a 1963 research study by Hokanson, Burgess & Cohen, subjects were frustrated (or not) by the experimenter and then given an opportunity to aggress against the experimenter, the experimenter’s assistant, a psychology student, or no one. The experiment yielded a marginal main effect for frustration, insofar as frustrated subjects were more aggressive than others, the target made no difference. The level of aggression remained the same whether it was aimed at the original target, at a relevant displaced target, or at an irrelevant target, but there was some physiological evidence suggesting that aggressing against the original target (or a closely linked one) was most satisfying.
Findings from the study show that people are equally aggressive toward other people as toward the person who has provoked them—suggesting, in other words, that the full amount of aggression can be displaced readily.
Case Arguement Against Displacement.Â
Some works interpret what is regarded as Displacement to mere mood or arousal effects: For Instance People who are angry are more aggressive in general.
The explanation borrows a 1948 experiment by Miller where rats attacked a dummy doll when the original enemy, another rat, is absent suggesting that it is difficult to assert that rats have defense mechanisms.
In their arguement, considering a Case where Daniel gets angry at his boss for criticizing him, and because of this anger Daniel later gets into a fight with a stranger whom he normally might have ignored. It’s not considered displacement as explained for in no sense can we conclude that it’s the same impulse that is displaced onto a new target and that whether he had inhibited his anger against his boss or expressed it might have made no difference.
Still on the case, they claim that no evidence show that such arousal or mood effects serve a defensive function for displacement would only qualify as a defense mechanism if the original, unacceptable impulse were prevented from causing some damage to self-esteem (or having some similar effect, such as stimulating anxiety.
References
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2. Anna Freud (1937). The Ego and the mechanisms of defense, London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis.
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4. Baumeister, R. F., Dale, K., & Sommer, K. L. (1998). Freudian defense mechanisms and empirical findings in modern social psychology: Reaction formation, projection, displacement, undoing, isolation, sublimation, and denial. Journal of Personality, 66(6), 1081-1124.
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6. Cramer, P. (1991a). The development of defense mechanisms: Theory, research and assessment. New York: Springer-Verlag.
7. Cramer, P. (1991b). Anger and the use of defense mechanisms in college students. Journal of Personality, 59, 39-55
8. Cramer, P. (2015). Defense mechanisms: 40 years of empirical research. Journal of Personality Assessment, 97(2), 114-122.
9. Sigmund Freud (1894). The neuro-psychoses of defence. SE, 3: 41-61.