ABSTRACT
There are many factors that combine to create resistance to change – even change for the better. In this chapter the author wants to focus just on one, since he believes that this particular factor plays a major role in limiting effective communication in the medical profession. This factor is resistance or more commonly referred to as defense mechanism. Medical students introject as they absorb vast amounts of material in their training, and integrate as norms of their profession the behavior of their mentors and authority figures. With introjection, information is unconsciously incorporated into one’s psyche. With confluence, individuals prematurely agree as a way of avoiding conflict. With deflection, individuals avoid confrontation by deflecting issues, e.g., humor can be used to deflect pain and suffering, as in the case of the stereotypical comic or clown.
