What defense mechanism involves using facts and details to avoid expressing emotions?

Intellectualization is a defense mechanism that involves a cognitive approach where an individual focuses on facts, details, and rational analysis while avoiding the emotional aspects of a situation. This allows a person to detach themselves from the emotional stress that might arise in response to certain experiences or feelings.

For instance, someone who has received a serious medical diagnosis might focus intensely on understanding the statistics, treatment options, and medical details, while neglecting to confront the personal fears and feelings associated with the diagnosis. By doing so, the person is effectively shielding themselves from emotional pain through cognitive reasoning.

In contrast, repression involves unconsciously burying uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or memories, while dissociation refers to the disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory, often as a response to trauma. Reaction-formation is a defense mechanism where a person acts in a way that is opposite to their disturbing feelings or impulses, often to disguise them. These mechanisms differ fundamentally in their focus and function, with intellectualization specifically centering on the use of rational thought to mitigate emotional distress.