Final answer:
Defense mechanisms are unconscious protective behaviors that the mind uses to reduce anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The unconscious mental strategies that the mind uses to protect itself from anxiety are called defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are unconscious and work to reduce anxiety by distorting reality. According to Freud, everyone uses defense mechanisms, but overuse of them can be problematic.
There are several types of defense mechanisms, such as repression. In repression, anxiety-causing memories are blocked from consciousness and stored in the unconscious. Another example is regression, where a person in a state of anxiety may return to a more immature behavioral stage.
Overall, defense mechanisms are unconscious protective behaviors that the mind uses to reduce anxiety and protect itself from overwhelming emotions.