Final answer:
The use of psychological defense mechanisms is associated with psychoanalytic theory, not cognitive or humanistic psychology. Defense mechanisms are unconscious behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety and are not focused on in cognitive psychology which studies human thinking, nor in humanistic psychology that centers on personal growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of psychological defense mechanisms is most closely associated with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which is not an aspect of either cognitive psychology or humanistic psychology. Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on the study of human thinking, including processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, and language.
Defense mechanisms are unconscious protective behaviors that work to reduce anxiety. They operate in ways that can distort reality to protect the ego from being overwhelmed by anxiety. For example, regression is an ego defense mechanism where an individual confronted with anxiety returns to a more immature behavioral stage.
Psychoanalysis primarily concerns itself with the unconscious mind and the use of defense mechanisms. By contrast, cognitive psychology explores the conscious processes that contribute to human thought and behavior, whereas humanistic psychology focuses on individual potential and emphasizes the importance of growth and self-actualization.