What is Denial?
1.
1: refusal to admit the truth or reality (as of a statement or charge) 2: assertion that an allegation is false
Some dude told me I was fat…I know I’m chunky…but I didn’t think I was that bad off…
See
2.
A psychological defense mechanism initiated by the psyche to temporarily suppress awareness of a deluded self-concept.
Denial may be understood as an attempt to reject unacceptable feelings, needs, thoughts, wishes, or even a painful external reality that alters our perception of ourselves. This psychological defense mechanism protects us temporarily from:
* Knowledge (things we don’t want to know)
* Insight or awareness that threatens our self-esteem; or our mental or physical health; or our security (things we don't want to think about)
* Unacceptable feelings (things we don’t want to feel)
Some of the forms of denial: rationalization, minimizing or discounting, evasion and displacement, exaggerated emotional responses, projection or blaming, intellectualization, repression, rhetorical ploys, and logical fallacies.
"I won't think about that today" was Scarlet O'Hara's use of repression as a form of denial. (from Gone With The Wind)
"I only drink beer, not the hard stuff so it's no big deal" is Joe's use of minimizing as a form of denial.
See
3.
Refusing to accept the truth.
Not only a river in Egypt.
Chris is in serious denial of his homosexual desires, at least publicly.
4.
A river in Egypt.
Or a refusal to accept something.
Or both.
That Egyptian claims he is dry, but he is clearly in denial.
See
5.
The first sign that you are a Trekkie.
I know I'm not a Trekkie...if you chose to call me one, I can't change your mind. I've been trying for months now and nothing works.
6.
It's more than a river it Egypt--it's ignoring the obvious truth that everyone sees but you.
Denial is basically a form of self-dishonesty.
See
7.
Something you go into when something is extremely wrong and you know it but choose not to admit that something is true.
Bob:Hi
Larry: Hey there Girlfriend
Bob: Im a guy
Larry: like whatever
Bob:You are really gay Larry.
Larry: I am not
Bob: You are in denial
