What Are Defense Mechanisms?

Take our Can You Spot Defense Mechanisms?

Find a therapist near me

Shapeshifting is not only myth—it exists in the real world as a psychological survival tactic.

Psychological masking, a form of shapeshifting, is driven by a deep fear of rejection and poor sense of self.

Far from being a magical gift, psychological shapeshifting usually comes at a steep emotional cost.

To read Madeline Miller’s Mestra simply as a fantasy is to miss its point; we must look past the magic of her shapeshifting to map the real-world psychological survival tactics hidden underneath.

In Greek mythology, Mestra is a shapeshifter, gifted by Poseidon, the god of the sea, with the ability to transform into any animal, figure, or form at will. She uses this power tactically: Her starving father sells her into slavery; she endures assault, abuse, and a loss of her sovereignty. However, with powers gifted to her by Poseidon, she transforms into a fisherman to escape, returns home, and repeats the cycle to survive.

To the outside world, shapeshifting looks like the ultimate superpower. However, when brought into the realm of psychology, "shape-shifting" is a defense mechanism and a survival strategy, not a superpower.

Far from being a magical gift, psychological shapeshifting usually comes at a steep emotional cost. For many people, changing who they are isn't a choice made from a........

© Psychology Today