sublimation
Summary
Sublimation is a defense mechanism in Freud's psychodynamic theory in which an unacceptable impulse, such as aggression or sexual desire, is redirected into a socially acceptable activity. It is usually classed as a mature, adaptive defense. In chemistry, the same word means solid to gas.
Detail
Meaning: In psychodynamic theory, the ego uses defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety from conflict between the id's urges, the superego's moral rules, and reality. In sublimation, the energy of an unacceptable impulse is channeled into an activity society values, so the urge is expressed in a transformed form. A person with aggressive impulses takes up boxing, or a person with intense sexual drive writes poetry or paints. It is generally regarded as a mature, healthy defense.
On the MCAT: Expect a short scenario and a request to name the defense mechanism. The cues are a constructive, socially approved behavior and an underlying impulse that would be unacceptable if expressed directly. Answer choices usually list other defenses, such as displacement, reaction formation, rationalization, repression, and projection.
Common confusion: Students mix up sublimation and displacement. Displacement moves the same impulse onto a safer target (yelling at a family member after being criticized by a boss). Sublimation changes the kind of activity into something valued. It also differs from repression, which pushes the impulse out of awareness, and from reaction formation, which expresses the opposite of the impulse. Do not confuse it with the chemistry term for a solid becoming a gas without passing through the liquid phase.
Sources
- Psychology
- Exploring Psychology
Written for the MCAT and checked before it was published. For study reference only. Spotted an error? Let us know.