Noun
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
Source: WordNetI think I came to see Islam, or at least one part of Islam, as an important defense mechanism against the commercialization of the world. Peter Jennings
When the empirical investigator glories in his refusal to go beyond the specialized observation dictated by the traditions of his discipline, be they ever so inclusive, he is making a virtue out of a defense mechanism which insures him against questioning his presuppositions. Karl Mannheim
Without comedy as a defense mechanism I wouldn't be able to survive. Garry Shandling
The human mind has a primitive ego defense mechanism that negates all realities that produce too much stress for the brain to handle. It's called Denial. Dan Brown
People use irony as a defense mechanism. David Byrne
Everyone is a little bitter. We're born bitter. The personality itself is really just a very complex defense mechanism. A reaction to the first time someone said, "No you can't. Marc Maron