What is a defense mechanism?

Question

Is being quiet/reserved a defense mechanism? And how so?

Answer 1

A defense mechanism is our way of coping with anxiety.  Being quiet/reserved could be an "avoidance" type of defense mechanism, because you are avoiding situations or encounters with others that have the potential to bring an increase in anxiety.

Answer 2

Being quiet and reserved is a personality trait, not a defence mechanism.  Defence Mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play to cope with reality and to maintain self-image, and tend to be pathological in nature through the distortion of reality or a personal reaction (such as denial, repression, or acting out).