Psychology in Writing: Neurotic Defense Mechanisms – Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt

Sigmund Freud diskutiert am 18. Juli 1929 mit Gustav Klimt im Café Landtmann den Gegensatz zwischen Eros und Todestrieb, Kultur und Triebregung (Photo credit: Christiaan Tonnis)

“Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”  –Sigmund Freud

Think about how your protagonist protects her/himself?  How does s/he react when a situation is too overwhelming?  Does s/he withdraw? Distance her/himself from the situation?  Take it out on someone else?  Repress her/his feelings? What are the consequences of using a defense mechanism to cope with a situation?  How does it impact the protagonist?  How do others around her/him react?  And what is the protagonist’s response to the reactions of others?  Does s/he use the defense mechanism more?  Use a different one?  Or acknowledge it?