Identify one common defense mechanism according to psychoanalytic theory.

Repression is a defense mechanism widely recognized in psychoanalytic theory, particularly as articulated by Sigmund Freud. It involves unconsciously blocking out painful or disturbing thoughts, memories, or desires from conscious awareness. This mechanism serves as a psychological buffer against anxiety, allowing individuals to cope with feelings or situations that they find distressing or overwhelming.

In practice, repression may manifest as forgetting traumatic events or finding it difficult to recall experiences associated with strong negative emotions. For example, someone who has experienced a significant loss might find that their feelings associated with that loss are dimmed or absent, as they have been repressed. This mechanism plays an essential role in managing emotional conflict, though it may lead to unresolved issues resurfacing in various ways, such as through dreams or symptoms of anxiety.

The other options, while valid defense mechanisms, represent different processes. For instance, projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings onto others, while intellectualization involves analyzing a situation in a detached manner to avoid emotional engagement. Displacement, on the other hand, entails redirecting feelings from a threatening target to a safer one. Each of these mechanisms operates differently than repression, which uniquely focuses on the unconscious nature of human experience by keeping distressing thoughts and feelings out of conscious awareness