Defense Mechanism: Compartmentalization

Do you ever feel as if your personality is vastly different depending on what setting you are in or who you are with?

Do others comment that you seem to act differently depending on where you are?

If so, there’s a chance that compartmentalization is going on.

Compartmentalization is when you consciously or unconsciously keep thoughts and emotions that seem to conflict, separated and isolated from each other. If you did not keep these emotions or thoughts separate it can often create anxiety.

The opposite of compartmentalization is cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is when we sit with the tension between two inconsistent cognitions. And in that sitting, as Adam Grant has said, we take the opportunity to rethink and unlearn.

An example of this at play would be that perhaps you realize you are vastly different during the work week than on the weekends. Sit with this and think about what aspects of yourself are at play during the workweek versus the weekend? What keeps your “weekend self” from showing up during the workweek? Do you feel that you have to present a certain way at work to your boss and/or co-workers? Do these emotions around how you are perceived need to be rethought and unlearned?