Which defense mechanism refers to blocking difficult thoughts from entering consciousness?

The defense mechanism that involves blocking difficult thoughts from entering consciousness is repression. This psychological process allows individuals to keep distressing thoughts, feelings, or memories out of awareness. It acts as a protective barrier, enabling a person to cope with anxiety or emotional pain by pushing these thoughts into the unconscious mind.

For example, someone who has experienced a traumatic event may inadvertently forget aspects of that memory, preventing it from causing immediate distress in their daily life. Repression can serve a vital function in helping individuals manage overwhelming emotions and maintain psychological stability.

In contrast, denial involves refusing to accept reality and its associated feelings, while regression refers to reverting to behaviors typical of an earlier stage of development in response to stress. Reaction formation is the conversion of unwanted or dangerous thoughts into their opposites. Each of these mechanisms serves a different purpose in coping with stress and emotions, but only repression specifically addresses the act of blocking thoughts from awareness.