Final answer:
According to Freud's conflict model of personality, defenses, or ego defense mechanisms, arise to manage the anxiety caused by conflicts between the id's impulses and the superego's moral restrictions. The ego, which seeks rationality, employs these mechanisms unconsciously to maintain balance but may lead to psychological issues if overused.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defenses arise according to the conflict model of personality by the mechanism of balancing the id, ego, and superego within our psyche, as proposed by Freud. The id desires immediate gratification, while the superego aims for moral and socially acceptable behavior. The ego negotiates between these two to maintain a sense of rationality and appropriateness. However, when there's a failure in mediation resulting in anxiety, the ego employs defense mechanisms to protect itself. These unconscious protective behaviors are used to distort reality and reduce anxiety but can lead to problems if overused.
Examples of these ego defense mechanisms include rationalization, denial, repression, and projection, among others. A strong ego that successfully mediates between the demands of the id and the superego contributes to a healthy personality, while imbalances may result in various psychological issues such as neurosis or anxiety disorders.
Freud's concept of defense mechanisms is essential to the understanding of personality in the conflict model, contrasting other psychological approaches like the functionalist approach or the trait theory with its five-factor model. His perspective on personality development is also interlinked with Erikson's psychosocial theory, highlighting the significance of resolving conflicts at various developmental stages.