Defence mechanisms are subconscious psychological strategies used by individuals to protect their ego from perceived threats or anxieties. Synonyms for defence mechanism include coping mechanism, personality defence, psychological defence, self-preservation instinct, self-defense mechanism, and survival behavior. Coping mechanisms are typically used as a means to manage stress, emotional distress or a challenging situation, while psychological defence or personality defence are more focused on protecting one's self-esteem and sense of identity. Self-preservation instinct refers to the natural survival instincts of human beings, while a self-defense mechanism is a way of protecting oneself physically or emotionally. The term survival behavior describes the many ways in which humans adapt and respond to challenging situations.