Why so defensive? How much do we really need to protect ourselves? Café Psychologique 28 February

Did you ever find yourself doing something without understanding why you have done it? Pretending something isn’t happening, being cross at someone who doesn’t deserve it, forgetting things we need to do, having unrealistic expectations: these are all everyday examples of psychological defences – the things our minds do to protect us from thoughts and feelings that are too difficult to deal with in some way.

Although the concept of psychological defence mechanisms is often attributed to Sigmund Freud, it was his daughter, Anna, who defined them in detail. In any case, at an everyday level these are ideas that are as old as civilisation. Early Daoist philosophers, Laozi and Zhuangzi, warn that the mind easily falls into traps of seeing things in black and white terms. A process later called ‘splitting’.

This cafe will look at what psychological defences are, why we have them, whether we really need them, and what to when they get out of hand.

It will be introduced by Dr Carol Martin, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Join the conversation at Café Psychologique Leeds, on Tuesday 28 February 8.00 pm to 9.45 pm in Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton, Leeds. The Café costs £4 on the door.

There is a poster to download here:
Café Psychologique February 2017

You can join in the conversation online on our Facebook page: Café Psychologique

You can read the Café Rules here: Café Psychologique Rules