How Does Your Mind Hide from Problems? A Test Based on the Life Style Index (LSI)

Imagine your brain as a superhero trying to shield you from uncomfortable feelings. These “defense mechanisms” are clever ways we avoid pain, fear, or shame. For example, saying “I don’t care” about something that actually hurts might be denial. Or getting mad at your boss but yelling at your dog at home – that’s displacement.

This test is based on the Life Style Index (LSI), created in 1979 by two psychologists: Robert Plutchik and Henry Kellerman. Plutchik is the guy who came up with the “wheel of emotions,” showing how emotions evolved to help us survive. He saw defenses as ancient, instinctual behaviors playing out in modern life. Kellerman added ideas about personality structure, specifically how different parts of your “self” interact. Together, they created a test that measures 8 key defense mechanisms. It’s not just a questionnaire – it’s a tool to understand why we act the way we do under stress.

What’s special about the LSI? It doesn’t judge you; it just shows how your defenses work. The original has 97 questions, but I’ve simplified it to 40 (5 per mechanism) so you can do it quickly. Answer “yes” or “no” to each statement. Be honest – no one’s checking your answers.

The Test

Write down your answers on paper or in your head. For each statement, mark “yes” (if you agree) or “no.”

Repression (Questions 1-5)

• I rarely recall unpleasant events from the past.
• When something hurts, I try to forget it forever.
• It’s hard for me to remember what bothered me yesterday.
• Bad memories just vanish from my mind.
• I avoid thinking about things that scare me.

Denial (Questions 6-10)

• Nothing bothers me; everything’s fine.
• I don’t believe problems exist if you don’t think about them.
• When something bad happens, I say, “That’s not true.”
• I ignore bad news as if it doesn’t exist.
• My mistakes? What mistakes?

Displacement (Questions 11-15)

• If someone annoys me, I might take my anger out on someone else.
• After a fight with a friend, I might snap at someone else.
• I take out my work anger on my family.
• When I’m scared of someone stronger, I lash out at someone weaker.
• My emotions sometimes “jump” to the wrong target.

Compensation (Questions 16-20)

• If I’m weak in something, I try to excel in something else.
• After a failure, I look for where I can succeed.
• I hide my weaknesses behind my strengths.
• If I fail at one thing, I switch to something I can win at.
• I make up for failures with new achievements.

Reaction Formation (Questions 21-25)

• If someone offends me, I act overly nice to them.
• I act like I like people I secretly don’t care for.
• I do the opposite of what I really feel inside.
• I hide anger behind a smile.
• My true feelings often hide behind opposite actions.

Projection (Questions 26-30)

• Other people are always to blame for my problems.
• I see in others what I don’t like in myself.
• I blame others for my fears.
• If I’m jealous, I say they’re the jealous ones.
• I notice bad traits in others but not in myself.

Intellectualization (Questions 31-35)

• I explain everything logically to avoid feeling emotions.
• I treat problems like a scientific puzzle.
• Instead of crying, I think about the reasons.
• I hide emotions behind logical explanations.
• I rationalize everything to avoid pain.

Regression (Questions 36-40)

• In stress, I act like a child.
• When things get tough, I want someone to pity me.
• I fall back into childish habits during hard times.
• In problems, I escape into games or daydreams.
• Stress makes me act immature.

Done? Now count your “yes” answers for each block (5 questions per mechanism). The maximum is 5 points per mechanism. If you score 3-5, that defense is strong. If you score 1-2, it is moderate. A score of 0 means it is weak.

What Does It All Mean? Understanding Your Results

Your scores show which defenses you use most. They’re not “good” or “bad” – just tools your mind uses. But if one is too strong, it might get in the way of living fully. Here’s a simple breakdown of each:

• Repression (Questions 1-5): You push painful thoughts deep into your subconscious, like locking a door. Pros: You avoid pointless worry. Cons: Unresolved problems can fester and explode unexpectedly. If you have a high score, try journaling to bring memories to the surface in a controlled way.
• Denial (6-10): You ignore reality as if it doesn’t exist, like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand. This can be helpful in a short-term crisis, but it is harmful long-term as problems grow. If you have a high score, try facing the truth with a trusted friend’s support.
• Displacement (11-15): You redirect strong emotions to a “safer” target. Anger at your boss goes to your pillow (or a family member). It prevents immediate conflicts but can hurt innocent people. If you have a high score, try sports or exercise to release that energy productively.
• Compensation (16-20): You cover perceived weaknesses with successes elsewhere. Bad at sports? Become a study genius. It motivates, but overdoing it might mean you ignore real issues. The tip here is to seek balance in your life.
• Reaction Formation (21-25): You act in the exact opposite way of your true feelings. You hate someone, so you act exceptionally loving toward them. It’s like wearing a mask. It avoids conflict but can be mentally exhausting. If you have a high score, ask yourself why you’re hiding your true feelings.
• Projection (26-30): You attribute your own flaws or unacceptable thoughts to others. “They’re so greedy!” – when it’s (secretly) you. It dodges guilt but ruins relationships. If you have a high score, it's time to look in the mirror and practice self-awareness.
• Intellectualization (31-35): You hide from emotions by analyzing them with cold logic. “It doesn’t hurt because…” This is great for making objective decisions, but it blocks emotional intimacy and processing. If you have a high score, try to let yourself just feel sometimes—it's okay to cry.
• Regression (36-40): You revert to childish or immature behavior under stress (e.g., throwing a tantrum or wanting to be cared for). It can be comforting, but it’s not a mature coping strategy for adult problems. If you have a high score, try adult relaxation methods, like meditation or deep breathing.

Fun psychology fact: Plutchik compared defenses to animal behaviors. Denial is like a turtle hiding in its shell. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, first described many of these mechanisms, but the LSI was a key tool in making them measurable. If your results feel concerning, remember this is not a diagnosis – it’s just a signal to reflect. For a deeper dive, you can find the full LSI or talk to a psychologist. Try the test again in a week – your results might shift!

References

• Plutchik, R., Kellerman, H., & Conte, H. R. (1979). A structural theory of ego defenses and emotions. In C. E. Izard (Ed.), Emotions in personality and psychopathology (pp. 229–257). New York: Plenum Press.
  (This is the primary academic paper that introduced the Life Style Index (LSI) and formally linked Plutchik's theory of emotions to the measurement of these 8 defense mechanisms.)
• Plutchik, R. (1980). Emotion: A psychoevolutionary synthesis. New York: Harper & Row.
  (This book details Plutchik's influential "wheel of emotions" and provides the broader evolutionary theory that underpins his view of defense mechanisms as adaptive survival behaviors.)