What are psychological defenses and how do they function?

Psychological defenses are unconscious mechanisms that protect our emotional sphere and psyche from damage. They can distort reality, creating a false perception where we feel less pain and have a sense of false hope. For example, during stressful situations like war, individuals may use defense mechanisms such as displacement, where anger or frustration is redirected from one target to another, often leading to a cycle of aggression and guilt.