Denial Is The Refusal To Acknowledge The Existence Or Severity Of Unpleasant External Realities Or Internal Thoughts And Feelings.
theory Of Denial
In Psychology, Denial Is A Concept Originating With The Psychodynamic Theories Of Sigmund Freud. According To Freud, Three Mental Dynamics, Or Motivating Forces, Influence Human Behavior: The Id, Ego, And Superego. The Id Consists Of Basic Survival Instincts And What Freud Believed To Be The Two Dominant Human Drives: Sex And Aggression. If The Id Were The Only Influence On Behavior, Humans Would Exclusively Seek To Increase Pleasure, Decrease Pain, And Achieve Immediate Gratification Of Desires. The Ego Consists Of Logical And Rational Thinking. It Enables Humans To Analyze The Realistic Risks And Benefits Of A Situation, To Tolerate Some Pain For Future Profit, And To Consider Alternatives To The Impulse-driven Behavior Of The Id. The Superego Consists Of Moralistic Standards And Forms The Basis Of The Conscience. Although The Superego Is Essential To A Sense Of Right And Wrong, It Can Also Include Extreme, Unrealistic Ideas About What One Should And Should Not Do.
These Three Forces All Have Different Goals (id, Pleasure; Ego, Reality; Superego, Morality) And Continually Strive For Dominance, Resulting In Internal Conflict. This Conflict Produces Anxiety. The Ego, Which Functions As A Mediator Between The Two Extremes Of The Id And The Superego, Attempts To Reduce This Anxiety By Using Defense Mechanisms. Defense Mechanisms Are Indirect Ways Of Dealing Or Coping With Anxiety, Such As Explaining Problems Away Or Blaming Others For Problems. Denial Is One Of Many Defense Mechanisms. It Entails Ignoring Or Refusing To Believe An Unpleasant Reality. Defense Mechanisms Protect One's Psychological Wellbeing In Traumatic Situations, Or In Any Situation That Produces Anxiety Or Conflict. However, They Do Not Resolve The Anxiety-producing Situation And, If Overused, Can Lead To Psychological Disorders. Although Freud's Model Of The Id, Ego, And Superego Is Not Emphasized By Most Psychologists Today, Defense Mechanisms Are Still Regarded As Potentially Maladaptive Behavioral Patterns That May Lead To Psychological Disorders.
