What term describes unconscious attempts to hide or control conflict in psychoanalysis?

The term that best describes unconscious attempts to hide or control conflict in psychoanalysis is defense mechanisms. These are psychological strategies that individuals use, often unconsciously, to protect themselves from anxiety and to maintain their self-esteem when faced with internal conflicts or external stressors. Defense mechanisms can manifest in various forms such as repression, denial, or rationalization, and they serve to help manage emotional pain, fear, or guilt.

In the context of psychoanalysis, defense mechanisms reflect a fundamental aspect of human psychology—our tendency to avoid uncomfortable thoughts or feelings. By employing these mechanisms, individuals can cope with difficult emotional states or conflicts without being consciously aware of the processes at play. This can be crucial for maintaining psychological well-being, but over-reliance on defense mechanisms can also hinder emotional growth and prevent individuals from addressing underlying issues.

Other terms mentioned, such as transference, refer to the phenomenon where clients project feelings about important figures from their life onto the therapist, which is related to the therapeutic relationship rather than the general unconscious attempts to manage conflict. Projection, while a specific form of defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others, is just one example of a defense mechanism. Compartmentalization describes the process of separating conflicting thoughts