Defense mechanisms are primarily used to deal with what psychological challenges?

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and internal conflicts that arise from both conscious and unconscious processes. When individuals face situations that provoke anxiety—such as feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, or threats to self-esteem—they may unconsciously employ these mechanisms to protect themselves from overwhelming feelings or to mitigate discomfort.

Common defense mechanisms include repression, denial, projection, and rationalization, each serving to distort reality in some way to alleviate emotional distress. For example, someone who is feeling anxious about a significant life change might use denial to minimize their feelings, convincing themselves that it's not a big deal despite knowing otherwise.

While other options mention various emotional states, they do not encapsulate the primary purpose of defense mechanisms as effectively as anxiety and conflict do. Anxiety and internal conflict are central to why these mechanisms are deployed; they are not primarily targeted at feelings of happiness or specific emotions like fear and anger. Instead, the focus is on managing the underlying psychological distress that often leads to these feelings.