Defense Mechanism: Isolation

What defense mechanism is Lorie using?

Lorie has her feelings hurt by her husband and starts crying. She goes into the bedroom and locks the door and will not come out. What defense mechanism is she using?

Answer:

Lorie is using the defense mechanism of withdrawal or isolation in response to her feelings being hurt by her husband.

The defense mechanism being used by Lorie in this situation is withdrawal or isolation. When her feelings are hurt by her husband, she goes into the bedroom, locks the door, and refuses to come out. This is a form of retreat or withdrawal from the situation, allowing Lorie to create physical and emotional distance from the hurtful experience. Isolation is a defense mechanism in which a person separates an emotion or thought from the rest of their thoughts and experiences.

This allows her to distance herself from the source of the emotional pain and avoid dealing with it directly. Isolation is often used as a coping mechanism to deal with overwhelming emotions or experiences. While it may provide temporary relief, it can also prevent the individual from fully processing and resolving the underlying issue. In the long term, this can lead to unresolved emotional conflicts and a lack of emotional growth.