defence mechanism

noun

1. psychoanal a usually unconscious mental process designed to reduce the anxiety, shame, etc, associated with instinctive desires
2. physiol the protective response of the body against disease organisms

Example Sentences

Kyran, 26, is now proud of being confident and uplifting others through drag, but says "it did start as a defence mechanism, because it was a way for me to try and survive".

From BBC

The results from the Burga group cement the evolutionary link between parent-specific gene expression and host defence mechanisms, tracing the origins back to organisms that lack DNA methylation and canonical imprinting.

From Science Daily

Strikingly, these moths lack hearing organs and are therefore not aware of their unique defence mechanism, nor do they have the capability to control it using muscular action.

From Science Daily

The Oldenlandia plant naturally makes cyclic proteins as part of a defence mechanism to deter predators.

From Science Daily

When it works properly, the p53 protein serves as a powerful defence mechanism against cancer development by ensuring that cells with compromised DNA either get repaired or removed from our body.

From Science Daily