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Conversion (Defense Mechanism)

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Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

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Definition

Conversion is a defense mechanism by which individuals reduce acute anxiety by transforming (converting) psychological suffering into physical symptoms, which are characterized by impairments in sensory and motor functions. In this process, individuals become unaware of the mental contents that cause psychological distress, and the associated anxiety is reduced. The ensuing motor and/or sensory impairments usually take the form of medical conditions for which physical etiology cannot be identified. Examples include paralysis, tremor, tactile insensitivity, weakness, numbness, seizures, loss of consciousness, and vision and hearing problems. As a maladaptive defense mechanism, conversion interferes with healthy adaptive functioning. As with all maladaptive defense mechanisms, because individuals using conversion are not fully aware of the original stressor, they cannot use effective problem solving to cope with it.

Introduction

The concept of conversion as a...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. WJCR – William James Center for Research, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Rua do Jardim do Tabaco, 32, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal

    Rui Miguel Costa

Authors
  1. Rui Miguel Costa
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Correspondence to Rui Miguel Costa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. MacQuarie University, North Ryde, Australia

    Simon Boag

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

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Costa, R.M. (2016). Conversion (Defense Mechanism). In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1371-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1371-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

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