Final answer:
Defense mechanisms, such as splitting, reaction formation, regression, and projection are psychological strategies used, often unconsciously, to cope with anxiety and protect one's self-image, especially prevalent in clients with personality disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defense mechanisms used by clients who have personality disorders often involve psychological strategies to protect themselves from anxiety or to maintain a self-image. One specific defense mechanism is splitting, where an individual sees others as either 'all good' or 'all bad', creating an unrealistic binary world of idealization and devaluation.
Apart from splitting, other common defense mechanisms include:
- Reaction formation: This occurs when a person feels an urge that is unacceptable and copes by adopting and exaggerating opposite behaviors. For example, having hostile feelings towards someone but showing over-the-top friendliness to mask those feelings.
- Regression: An individual behaves in a way that is typical of an earlier developmental stage. For instance, an adult dealing with stress might throw temper tantrums.
- Projection: Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to another person. A person who is uncomfortable with their own aggressive urges might accuse others of being hostile.
All these mechanisms operate unconsciously and serve to protect the ego from overwhelming anxiety.