Which defense mechanism involves forcing distressing thoughts out of consciousness?

Repression is a defense mechanism that involves pushing distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings out of conscious awareness. This process occurs as a way of protecting the individual from anxiety, emotional pain, or distress caused by those thoughts. It is an unconscious process, meaning that the individual is often unaware that they are doing it, and this mechanism plays a crucial role in how people cope with traumatic experiences or overwhelming emotions.

In the context of psychological functioning, repression can serve as a temporary solution to manage discomfort, but it can lead to difficulties in addressing the underlying issues, possibly resulting in emotional or behavioral problems later on. Unlike other defense mechanisms, repression specifically deals with the exclusion of certain thoughts from awareness, making it distinctive in its function.

Other defense mechanisms mentioned in the choices operate differently; for example, projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings to others, displacement involves redirecting emotions from one target to another, and denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts. These mechanisms do not primarily focus on the removal of thoughts from consciousness in the same way as repression does.