Melvin Udall utilises a number of defence mechanisms in dealing with his feelings of anxiety. Repression, being the primary defence mechanism, is utilised a great deal by Melvin. He seeks to eliminate all forbidden id impulses

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Pervin and John define anxiety as a “painful emotional experience that signals or alerts the ego to danger.”(2001, 107). They argue that humans are incapable of sustaining prolonged anxiety due to the fact that it is a highly painful state (2001, 86). Anxiety is created by forbidden id impulses that are seeking expression (McNeil, 1970: 17). In dealing with such intense anxiety people develop mechanism of defence that serve to repress the forbidden impulses (Pervin & John, 2001: 86). Defence mechanisms according to Freud are unconscious ways of reducing anxiety by distorting reality and excluding some thoughts, wishes, and, feelings from awareness (Pervin & John, 2001: 86).

Melvin Udall utilises a number of defence mechanisms in dealing with his feelings of anxiety. Repression, being the primary defence mechanism, is utilised a great deal by Melvin. He seeks to eliminate all forbidden id impulses by his use of repression. Repression is also a common feature of many other defence mechanisms that are used by Melvin.

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Projection is one of the most frequently used defence mechanisms by Melvin. We see, in many cases throughout the movie, Melvin projecting his feelings of inadequacy onto other people. He does this by insulting them with racial remarks, sexual remarks, and general slander. Empirical evidence has shown that many people will at times project unfavourable traits onto others that they deny within themselves (Pervin & John, 2001: 86). In one example, Melvin says to another character “I’m not a prick, you are, but I’m not”. This is a clear indication of Melvin projecting his inadequate feelings of himself onto ...

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