manic defenses
Pronunciation: MAN-ik dih-FEN-siz
Klein's term for defenses against depressive anxiety, including omnipotence, denial, and idealization.
Full Definition
Manic defenses protect against the pain of the depressive position by denying dependence on objects and the reality of having damaged them. These defenses include omnipotent control (phantasies of complete mastery), idealization (denying aggressive feelings), and denial of psychic reality. While they provide temporary relief from guilt and anxiety, manic defenses prevent genuine reparation and maintain a fragile psychic equilibrium. They are characterized by a quality of triumph over the object and a denial of the object's separate existence and importance.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from clinical mania; always plural when referring to the defensive constellation.
In Context
- "His manic defenses prevented him from experiencing genuine remorse about his destructive behavior." — case evaluation
- "The analyst's interpretations threatened the patient's manic defenses, leading to increased anxiety." — process notes